Target Audience(s): Physicians, Nurse Practitioners or other Advanced Practice Nurses, PAs, Pharmacists, Interprofessional Teams, Students, and Educators
Description: Lab testing in the assessment of substance use disorders may involve many different substrates, though urine drug testing (UDT) dominates clinical practice. This course is meant to provide a short guide to effective use of lab testing in the treatment of the patient with a substance use disorder, which, to a surprising degree, is often misused or misunderstood. The course describes the clinical role of lab testing to guide treatment and not to be punitive. To properly use and interpret UDT, it reviews common false positives and false negatives that might occur in the immunologic-based first step in UDT. To understand confirmatory gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, it goes on to describe the metabolism of common opioids and benzodiazepines, because the detected substance is often just a downstream metabolite of several possible parent compounds to which the patient was exposed. The course concludes with a discussion of the difference between UDT for clinical purposes versus forensic ones.
Educational Objectives:
- Discuss clinical issues in performing urine drug testing (UDT)
- Identify the basic types of UDT and when they should be used
- Interpret laboratory results in the context of opioid and benzodiazepine metabolism
- Appropriately use lab testing in the management of patients with SUD
Foundational SUD 101 Core Curriculum Course
This course is one of eight foundational courses in the SUD 101 Core Curriculum. These courses are interactive and feature immersive, case-based learning that review real-world clinical scenarios. For more information about the SUD 101 Core Curriculum offerings, please visit the SUD 101 homepage.
Course components:
- Interactive learning: interactive presentation with knowledge checks and reflection questions.
- Resources: Downloadable slide deck, resource links, references, and mentorship opportunities.
- Facilitation Guides: Tools to support discussion and implementation within clinical teams.
- Accredited CE credits: A certificate following completion of the course.
- Choice of available CE Credit types: AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™, AAPA Category 1 CME, Nursing Contact Hours, Pharmacy CE Credit, Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) Credit.
Completion:
- CE certificates: After completing each course, learners will receive a CE certificate.
- Digital badge: Learners who complete all 8 foundational courses can receive an 8-Hour SUD Training Digital Badge. The badge confirms completion of at least 8 hours of training on substance use disorders and fulfills the 8-hour DEA training requirement. It can be shared on social media, added to email signatures, or included in online portfolios and resumes.
Note: Learners seeking a certificate verifying 8 hours of training must complete the full 8-course bundle via the PCSS-MOUD website under the 8-Hour DEA Training.
