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

Early Units (Foundation)

Building Skills

Advanced Concepts

Capstone/Synthesis

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

20 minutes

Learning Progression

This course is designed to be taken sequentially. Earlier units establish foundational concepts that later units build upon. While you can explore units in any order, following the numbered sequence provides the most coherent learning experience.