Opioids, Pain Management, and Substance Use Disorder: A Practical Overview

This activity includes interactive patient cases.

Program Description

There are different classifications and types of pain, and because pain is subjective, it can be difficult to adequately treat. This interactive activity will outline validated assessments pharmacists can use to document patients’ reported pain to ensure patients are being managed with appropriate therapies. As members of the patient’s care team, pharmacists must promote responsible pain management. Considerations for the clinical use of opioids, their receptor targets, and indications will be reviewed, in addition to safety and efficacy of non-opioid treatment modalities. Management strategies and counseling points for pharmacists to reduce opioid-related adverse effects as well as prevent misuse and abuse of opioids will also be discussed. This activity features opportunities for interactive participation through patient case examples.

Target audience: Pharmacists

Type of activity: Application
Release date: February 14, 2025
Expiration date: February 14, 2027

Time to complete activity: 2.0 hours

Learner level: Foundational
Fee: Free

Educational Objectives

At the completion of this activity, participants will be able to:

• Apply risk mitigation strategies for opioid prescribing and dispensing given a real or simulated patient scenario
• Employ equianalgesic dosing tables to recommend opioid therapy dosing
• Identify a patient who is at risk for either opioid use disorder or opioid overdose

Pharmacy Times Continuing Education™ is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. This activity is approved for 2.0 contact hours (0.20 CEU) under the ACPE universal activity number 0290-0000-25-007-H08-P. The activity is available for CE credit through February 14, 2027.

Instructions for Completing the Activity and Receiving CPE Credit

To receive CPE credit, participants must complete the pretest, review the activity in its entirety, complete the posttest, and complete the online activity evaluation. After successful completion of the online activity evaluation, you can submit your credit to CPE Monitor. You may view your credit within 48 hours at www.mycpemonitor.net. All participants must request credit before the activity expiration date. CE credit will not be issued after this date.

Disclosures

Christopher M. Herndon, PharmD, has the following relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose:
Dr. Herndon has served grant/research support from Illinois Department of Public Health, Illinois Dept of Human Services and he is an advisor for the US Dept of Justice.

The following contributors have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose:

Pharmacy Times Continuing Education™ Planning Staff—Jim Palatine, RPh, MBA; Maryjo Dixon, RPh, MBA; Crissy Wilson; Susan Pordon; Brianna Winters; and Chloe Taccetta.

Anonymous peer reviewers were used as part of content validation and conflict resolution. The peer reviewers have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose.

Educational Disclaimer
CPE activities are offered solely for educational purposes and do not constitute any form of professional advice or referral. Discussions concerning drugs, dosages, and procedures may reflect the clinical experience of the author(s) or they may be derived from the professional literature or other sources and may suggest uses that are investigational in nature and not approved labeling or indications. Participants are encouraged to refer to primary references or full prescribing information resources.

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ceinfo@pharmacytimes.com
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