Opioid Addiction

Opioid addiction remains one of the most pressing healthcare crises in the United States, demanding nuanced understanding and advanced clinical intervention. This 1-hour CME/CE course equips healthcare professionals with up-to-date knowledge on opioid use disorder, its pathophysiology, and the diverse approaches required for effective treatment across multiple care settings.

Participants will gain in-depth insights into the neurobiology of addiction, the clinical challenges of managing opioid intoxication, and the intricacies of care delivery in outpatient, emergency, inpatient, and long-term rehabilitation settings. The course also includes a focused section on treating pregnant women with opioid use disorder—a vulnerable population requiring specialized protocols to ensure safe outcomes for both mother and fetus. Whether you’re a provider in primary care, addiction medicine, behavioral health, or obstetrics, this course will give you practical, evidence-based tools to improve treatment engagement, retention, and outcomes in opioid addiction management.

Educational Objectives

• Summarize the pathophysiology of opioid addiction.
• Discuss clinical challenges in managing opioid intoxication.
• Describe treatment approaches for opioid addiction in outpatient, emergency room, inpatient, and long-term rehabilitation settings.
• Explain treatment protocols and safety considerations for managing opioid addiction in pregnant women.

Who Should Take This Course

This course is recommended for:

• Physicians, nurses, and physician assistants practicing in states requiring CME/CE on opioid prescribing or pain management.
• Addiction medicine specialists, emergency department clinicians, and behavioral health providers.
• Obstetricians and maternal health professionals treating pregnant patients with opioid use disorder.
• Healthcare professionals working in primary care, urgent care, or long-term rehabilitation settings.

Did You Know?

• Opioid addiction affects over 2.7 million Americans. [SAMHSA, 2022]
• Treatment with medication-assisted therapy (MAT) can cut opioid-related mortality in half. [NEJM, 2018]
• Pregnant women with opioid use disorder benefit most from integrated obstetric and addiction care models. [ACOG]
• Only 11% of people with substance use disorders receive the treatment they need. [NSDUH, 2021]
• Emergency departments play a key role in initiating treatment for opioid addiction and linking patients to care.