Educational Activities Archives

This activity reviews the following key data points which are important to primary care physicians: 1) the current epidemiologic data on drug-drug interactions between opioids and other medications, 2) possible explanations for increases in drug-drug interactions, 3) physiological and pharmacokinetic basis for adverse drug interactions, and 4) strategies for reducing risk for adverse drug interactions.

Join us for this evidence-based course that cuts through the confusion, dispels longstanding myths, and gives you the practical knowledge to make confident, compassionate treatment decisions. You will leave with a clear understanding of when and how to use buprenorphine or methadone, how to employ shared-decision making with patients through the realities of neonatal withdrawal, and how to build a postpartum care plan that supports both mother and child long after delivery. Whether you are new to this patient population or looking to sharpen your clinical approach, this course meets you where you are and empowers you to do more.

Patient-centered care has become a crucial approach when working with patients with substance use disorder (SUD). Unfortunately, the care continuum can be interrupted for patients with SUDs, often due to stigma and discrimination. Each interruption increases challenges in access to care and can lead to patient harm. Language can intentionally or unintentionally perpetuate stigma. As people who care for patients with SUDs, we need to learn their rights so we can advocate for them and change our language to reduce stigma. This course will discuss the importance of patient-centered care, improved language when discussing substance use, and advocacy strategies that clinicians can use when caring for people who use substances.

Opioid use disorder (OUD) has highly effective FDA-approved medications for its treatment. This course reviews and compares pharmacological treatment options for individuals with OUD, including methadone, buprenorphine (sublingual and injectable formulations), and naltrexone (oral and long-acting intramuscular formulations). Current evidence for each medication is reviewed in detail, and studies comparing each are discussed. The purpose and goal of medications for OUD are reviewed, and different treatment models are presented. The course includes case vignettes in which medication options for OUD are considered.

Overdose is the leading cause of accidental injury death in the United States, surpassing motor vehicle crashes, claiming more than 100,000 American lives annually in 2022 and 2023. Promisingly, overdose deaths dropped to 80,341 in 2024. Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid sold as heroin and counterfeit prescription opioids, and commonly contaminating cocaine and methamphetamine, is driving surges in overdose deaths in most communities. This course will introduce tools to combat overdose, which include overdose education and naloxone distribution, compassionate overdose response, drug checking, engagement and treatment, and safety planning.

Join our 4-session online case-based learning collaborative series focused on treating opioid use disorder. Delve into strategies to effectively assess and manage opioid withdrawal and explore real-world cases provided by addiction experts, applying knowledge to practical situations. Each session is presented live online and spans 1.5 hours. Designed for healthcare team members new to treating patients with opioid use disorder and opioid withdrawal, the series aims to offer additional insights, knowledge, and confidence.