Educational Activities Archives

This session explores the complex relationship between nicotine and opioid use, including shared biological pathways and how co-use can intensify pain, cravings, and withdrawal. Patients may rely on nicotine to manage stress or withdrawal symptoms, creating a reinforcing cycle that complicates recovery. Integrating treatment for both conditions is increasingly recognized as essential to improving long-term outcomes.

This webinar will focus on the crucial role of the emergency department (ED) in recognizing and treating opioid use disorder (OUD) patients with evidence-based medications for addiction treatment.

Pregnant and postpartum women with OUD face fragmented and siloed health care, systemic barriers, stigma and multifaceted challenges, which contribute to adverse outcomes and significant negative consequences for individuals and society. Methadone is an essential component of Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) treatment, with substantial evidence highlighting its benefits for maternal-and-fetal-health. This webinar will discuss emerging evidence of rapid and split dose methadone initiation for perinatal patients in the hospital setting, and the utility of offering whole person approach and linkage to follow up OTP care.

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.

For patients with cancer and substance use disorders, managing pain safely and effectively presents unique challenges. Clinicians must balance appropriate opioid prescribing with the risks of relapse, overdose, and fragmented care. This episode explores how addiction, oncology, and palliative care providers can work together to support both cancer treatment and recovery. Listeners will learn practical frameworks for managing cancer-related pain, coordinating care across specialties, and improving outcomes for patients navigating these intersecting and complex conditions.

Substance Use Disorders in Older Adults is a growing problem not only in the United States but throughout the developed world. The Baby Boomer generation, born between 1946 and 1964, is turning 62-80 years old this year. This group is presenting with more Substance Use Disorders and need for substance use treatment now. The use of an artificial cut off age of 65 years as the definition of elderly or old is arbitrary, and this will be discussed. The course will look at the prevalence, screening and treatment of non-medical use of prescription drugs and illicit opioids, as well as use of tobacco, alcohol, stimulants and cocaine, marijuana, and non-opioid sedative hypnotic agents. There are interactive questions throughout the course to help digest and discuss the information presented.