Opioid Use Disorder Education Program

An estimated 130 people are dying per day from opioid overdoses which amounts to 42,000 people per year. In 2017, 2.1 million people were diagnosed with an OUD, which includes prescription opioids, heroin, and fentanyl.  In total, 19.7 million Americans have been diagnosed with a substance use disorder, which includes dependence or misuse of alcohol or any illicit drug. 

CPNP’s OUD Education Program is designed to be part of the solution in addressing this public health crisis by educating pharmacists on how to identify patients with OUD, when to refer untreated patients to providers for treatment, how to develop/recommend evidence‐based treatment plans for OUD, and the steps to monitoring prescribed treatments. 

For as little as $99, you can take advantage of a suite of over 20 hours of ACPE approved, on-demand programming presented by seasoned pharmacists and other healthcare professionals actively treating opioid use disorder. Topics range from pharmacotherapy for OUD, to comorbid disorders, to chronic pain and OUD, and so much more. Take advantage of this bundled pricing opportunity to have this comprehensive curriculum available a mouse click away or purchase individual modules for $15 each.

Learning Objectives

  1. Identify individuals at risk for opioid overdose and develop an appropriate treatment plan
  2. Screen and refer patients with opioid use disorder for treatment
  3. Develop an evidence-based treatment plan for medication assisted treatment
  4. Describe and implement harm reduction strategies for patients with opioid use disorder
  5. Assess, initiate, and modify opioid use disorder treatment planning using evidence-based recommendations 
  6. Discuss the psychiatric and medical co-morbidities associated with opioid use disorder
  7. Apply regulatory and best practices to optimize care and safety for patients with opioid use disorder

This activity is supported by an educational grant from Alkermes, Inc.

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Courses

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Harm Reduction in Opioid Use Disorder ACPE
Describe the principles of harm reduction for people with opioid use disorder (OUD). Apply evidence-based interventions for harm ...[more]
Learning Objectives
  1. Describe the principles of harm reduction for people with opioid use disorder (OUD).
  2. Apply evidence-based interventions for harm reduction. 
  3. Develop a list of national and local resources to assist people with OUD in accessing harm reduction services.

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1.0FREE!
Health Care Providers in Recovery from Substance Use Disorder ACPE
Describe the prevalence of substance use disorders (SUDs) in health care professionals. List available resources for pharmacy ...[more]
Learning Objectives
  1. Describe the prevalence of substance use disorders (SUDs) in health care professionals.
  2. List available resources for pharmacy professionals with SUDs.
  3. Create a plan for managing healthcare professionals in recovery.

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1.0FREE!
Integrating Pharmacists into the Team for Pharmacotherapy for Opioid Use Disorder ACPE
Identify the unique training and traits pharmacists bring to the interprofessional treatment team caring for patients with opioid ...[more]
Learning Objectives
  1. Identify the unique training and traits pharmacists bring to the interprofessional treatment team caring for patients with opioid use disorder (OUD).
  2. Describe the barriers and benefits encountered in establishing a collaborative practice agreement with prescribers to provide pharmacotherapy for OUD. 
  3. Compare outcomes from collaborations integrating pharmacists into the team providing pharmacotherapy for OUD in different practice settings across the United States.

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1.2FREE!
Interprofessional Communication Among Prescribers and Pharmacists who Care for Patients with Opioid Use Disorder ACPE
Describe common misperceptions among and between prescribers and community pharmacists that impacts care for patients with ...[more]
Learning Objectives
  1. Describe common misperceptions among and between prescribers and community pharmacists that impacts care for patients with OUD. 
  2. Discuss factors that influence intraprofessional and interprofessional communication, including level of trust, role perceptions, conflict history and avoidance, personal relationships, and prescription monitoring program use. 
  3. Propose potential solutions to improve communication between prescribers and pharmacists that can improve care for patients with OUD.

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1.2FREE!
Managing Pain in the Setting of Opioid Use Disorder ACPE
Describe the epidemiology of comorbid pain and opioid use disorder (OUD) in the United States. Differentiate symptoms of untreated ...[more]
Learning Objectives
  1. Describe the epidemiology of comorbid pain and opioid use disorder (OUD) in the United States.
  2. Differentiate symptoms of untreated chronic pain from symptoms of OUD.
  3. Develop and design treatment plans to address comorbid chronic pain and OUD.
  4. Develop and design treatment plans to address acute pain in patients with OUD on pharmacotherapy including buprenorphine, methadone and naltrexone.

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1.2FREE!
Medications for the Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder in the Acute Care Setting ACPE
Explain the epidemiology of OUD in the acute care setting Describe the regulatory requirements for initiating detoxification for ...[more]
Learning Objectives
  1. Explain the epidemiology of OUD in the acute care setting
  2. Describe the regulatory requirements for initiating detoxification for OUD in the acute care setting.
  3. Describe the regulatory and clinical considerations for initiating and modifying existing pharmacotherapy for OUD in the acute care setting.
  4. Apply evidence based interventions or detoxification and pharmacotherapy for OUD in the acute care setting.

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1.0FREE!
Opioid Use Disorder and Comorbid Disorders ACPE
Identify psychiatric, substance use, and medical disorders that commonly co-occur with opioid use disorder (OUD). Describe how to ...[more]
Learning Objectives
  1. Identify psychiatric, substance use, and medical disorders that commonly co-occur with opioid use disorder (OUD).
  2. Describe how to screen for and identify comorbid disorders in patients with OUD.
  3. Distinguish differences in presentation when psychiatric, substance use, or medical disorders present comorbidly with OUD versus independently.
  4. Demonstrate how to develop and modify treatment plans when comorbidities are identified in patients with OUD.

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1.5FREE!
Perinatal Opioid Use Disorder: Screening, Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome, and Lactation ACPE
Describe screening tools specifically developed to evaluate opioid use disorder (OUD) in pregnant and/or lactating people. Discuss ...[more]
Learning Objectives
  1. Describe screening tools specifically developed to evaluate opioid use disorder (OUD) in pregnant and/or lactating people.
  2. Discuss barriers to treatment engagement.
  3. Summarize current controversies in the treatment of pregnant people with medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD).
  4. Evaluate for the risk and prevention of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS).
  5. Describe the presenting symptoms of NAS and commonly used assessment tools.
  6. Discuss pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatment options for NAS.
  7. Describe the role of breastfeeding in the treatment of NAS or in the postpartum person on pharmacotherapy for OUD. 

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1.2FREE!
Pharmacists on the Front Lines in Naloxone Education and Distribution for Opioid Overdose ACPE
Describe validated tools and practice-based methods to assess the risk for opioid-induced respiratory depression. Identify models ...[more]
Learning Objectives
  1. Describe validated tools and practice-based methods to assess the risk for opioid-induced respiratory depression.
  2. Identify models for overdose education and naloxone distribution that are applicable to various practice settings.
  3. Discuss Good Samaritan protection provisions for health care providers, first responders, and the layperson.
  4. Describe the pharmacology of naloxone.
  5. Demonstrate appropriate administration of intranasal and intramuscular naloxone products. 
  6. Explain the steps in addressing an opioid overdose emergency.
  7. Discuss cost and appropriate storage of naloxone products.
  8. Provide appropriate education to at-risk patients and laypersons regarding naloxone rescue.

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1.2FREE!
Pharmacotherapy for Opioid Use Disorder ACPE
Explain the basic mechanism of action, dosing and dosage forms, adverse effects, monitoring parameters, and patient considerations ...[more]
Learning Objectives
  1. Explain the basic mechanism of action, dosing and dosage forms, adverse effects, monitoring parameters, and patient considerations for buprenorphine/naloxone, methadone, and naltrexone.
  2. Describe the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM) levels of care and appropriate use in clinical practice. 
  3. Develop a care plan for a patient prescribed buprenorphine/naloxone, methadone, or naltrexone for the outpatient treatment of OUD. 
  4. Recommend non-pharmacologic treatments and wrap-around services for a patient being treated for OUD.

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2.0FREE!
Prescription Medication Diversion and Opioid Use Disorder ACPE
Describe the scope of the drug diversion problem in the United States. Identify potential sources and methods of diversion. ...[more]
Learning Objectives
  1. Describe the scope of the drug diversion problem in the United States.
  2. Identify potential sources and methods of diversion.
  3. Summarize strategies for diversion monitoring within a health care system.
  4. Discuss patient specific strategies for diversion monitoring, including the use of prescription drug monitoring programs.

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1.2FREE!
Screening and Referral for Opioid Use Disorder ACPE
Explain the role of the pharmacist in screening for substance use disorders (SUDs).  Describe the process of Screening, Brief ...[more]
Learning Objectives
  1. Explain the role of the pharmacist in screening for substance use disorders (SUDs). 
  2. Describe the process of Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) and how pharmacists can be integrated into the process. 
  3. Apply validated screening tools (e.g., Audit, DAST, CAGE, etc.) used in the process of screening for SUDs.
  4. Develop a resource list that can be used to refer patients with suspected or known SUD for evaluation or treatment.

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1.0FREE!
Special Considerations for Incarcerated Patients with Opioid Use Disorder ACPE
Explain the epidemiology of opioid use disorder (OUD) in the incarceration setting. Describe the role of opioid tolerance in ...[more]
Learning Objectives
  1. Explain the epidemiology of opioid use disorder (OUD) in the incarceration setting.
  2. Describe the role of opioid tolerance in overdose risk in patients with OUD released from incarceration.
  3. Explain the regulations for initiating and continuing pharmacotherapy for OUD in the incarceration setting.
  4. Apply evidence-based interventions to design a treatment plan for pharmacotherapy for OUD in the incarceration setting.
  5. Develop a system to decrease diversion of medications used in the treatment of OUD in incarcerated patients.

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1.2FREE!
The Opioid Epidemic: History, Stigma and Progress ACPE
Describe the development of the opioid epidemic and the epidemiology of OUD in the United States. Explain the morbidity, mortality, ...[more]
Learning Objectives
  1. Describe the development of the opioid epidemic and the epidemiology of OUD in the United States.
  2. Explain the morbidity, mortality, and associated societal costs of OUD and injection drug use.
  3. Discuss the proposed neurobiology of OUD, including the roles of memory, genetics, and environmental factors.
  4. Apply the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria to assess for OUD.
  5. List methods to help address and reduce stigma associated with OUD.
  6. Describe regulatory and confidentiality requirements for medication management within a licensed opioid treatment program (OTP).
  7. Explain the regulatory requirements for obtaining a DATA waiver to prescribe buprenorphine/naloxone.

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1.5FREE!
Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder in Children and Adolescents ACPE
Describe screening tools specifically developed to evaluate opioid use disorder (OUD) in children and adolescents. Discuss barriers ...[more]
Learning Objectives
  1. Describe screening tools specifically developed to evaluate opioid use disorder (OUD) in children and adolescents.
  2. Discuss barriers to treatment engagement.
  3. Discuss pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatment options.
  4. Discuss special considerations in the treatment of OUD in children and adolescents.

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0.8FREE!
Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder in Older Adults ACPE
Recognize opioid use disorder (OUD) in the older adult population. Discuss barriers to treatment engagement. Discuss special ...[more]
Learning Objectives
  1. Recognize opioid use disorder (OUD) in the older adult population.
  2. Discuss barriers to treatment engagement.
  3. Discuss special considerations of pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatment options of OUD in older adults.

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0.8FREE!
Urine Drug Screens and Opioid Use Disorder ACPE
Compare the different urine drug screening (UDS) methods and modalities. Discuss commonly encountered problems with false positive ...[more]
Learning Objectives
  1. Compare the different urine drug screening (UDS) methods and modalities.
  2. Discuss commonly encountered problems with false positive and negative results in UDS. 
  3. Interpret UDS results, including for specimen validity.
  4. Redesign a treatment plan based on UDS results.

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1.2FREE!