Opioid Prescribing & Pain Management

Evidence-based opioid prescribing and pain management. Covers the opioid epidemic, CDC prescribing guidelines (2022 update), risk assessment, opioid use disorder recognition and MOUD, non-opioid alternatives, and DEA enforcement.

6 Units

20 minutes per unit

Curriculum Map

What You Will Learn

CDC Guidelines

The 2022 update changed the framework. Understand patient selection, dosing, duration, tapering, and de-implementation considerations.

OUD Treatment

DSM-5 criteria, buprenorphine (X-waiver eliminated), methadone, naltrexone, and evidence-based referral pathways.

Legal Framework

DEA registration, state prescription limits, criminal prosecution cases, and the standard of care after Ruan v. United States.

All Units

20 minutes

The Opioid Epidemic: Mortality Trends, Sources, and Demographic Impact

Examines the epidemiology of the opioid crisis through CDC mortality data, distinguishing prescription opioid deaths from synthetic opioid deaths, and analyzing demographic risk patterns.

•Analyze mortality trends from prescription opioids, illicit fentanyl, and polysubstance use based on CDC WONDER data
•Distinguish between the three waves of the opioid epidemic and their distinct pharmacological drivers
•Identify demographic groups at highest risk for opioid overdose death and prescribing-related harm

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20 minutes

CDC Opioid Prescribing Guideline: 2022 Update and Clinical Application

Examines the 2022 CDC Clinical Practice Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Pain, including recommendations for acute and chronic pain, dosing limits, tapering protocols, and harm reduction.

•Apply the 2022 CDC Guideline recommendations for patient selection, dosing, duration, and tapering in opioid therapy
•Distinguish between the 2016 and 2022 Guidelines' approach to patient-centered decision-making and de-implementation risks
•Calculate morphine milligram equivalents (MME) and identify dose thresholds that trigger enhanced monitoring

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20 minutes

Risk Assessment and Mitigation: PDMPs, Screening Tools, and Naloxone

Examines evidence-based risk assessment tools, prescription drug monitoring programs, urine drug testing protocols, and naloxone co-prescribing to mitigate harm in opioid therapy.

•Apply validated screening tools to assess patient risk for opioid misuse, diversion, and overdose prior to prescribing
•Interpret prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) data to identify red flags such as overlapping prescriptions and doctor shopping
•Implement naloxone co-prescribing and urine drug testing as harm reduction strategies in high-risk populations

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20 minutes

Opioid Use Disorder: Recognition, Treatment, and Buprenorphine Access

Examines the diagnosis of opioid use disorder, evidence-based pharmacotherapy with buprenorphine and methadone, and the regulatory changes that expanded access to medications for opioid use disorder.

•Diagnose opioid use disorder using DSM-5-TR criteria and distinguish it from physical dependence and pseudoaddiction
•Evaluate the evidence base for medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), including buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone
•Implement buprenorphine treatment in primary care settings following the elimination of the federal waiver requirement

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20 minutes

Non-Opioid Pain Management: Pharmacologic, Interventional, and Behavioral Approaches

Examines non-opioid pharmacologic agents, interventional pain procedures, physical therapy, cognitive-behavioral approaches, and integrative therapies as alternatives to opioid therapy for acute and chronic pain.

•Evaluate the evidence base for non-opioid analgesics including NSAIDs, acetaminophen, and neuromodulators in chronic pain management
•Identify appropriate candidates for interventional procedures such as nerve blocks, radiofrequency ablation, and spinal cord stimulation
•Integrate behavioral and physical therapy modalities into multimodal pain treatment plans to reduce opioid exposure

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20 minutes

Legal and Regulatory Framework: DEA Requirements, State Laws, and Prescriber Liability

Examines the legal and regulatory framework for opioid prescribing, including DEA requirements, state prescription laws, medical board disciplinary actions, and criminal liability for unlawful distribution.

•Identify DEA registration requirements, recordkeeping obligations, and the standards for prescribing controlled substances 'in the usual course of professional practice'
•Distinguish between state-level prescription limits, mandatory PDMP use laws, and disciplinary actions imposed by medical boards
•Analyze case law and enforcement actions involving criminal prosecution and civil liability of prescribers for opioid-related harm

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