Opioid analgesic medications can bring substantial relief to patients suffering from pain. However, the inappropriate use, abuse, and diversion of prescription drugs in America, particularly prescription opioids, has increased dramatically in recent years and has been identified as a national public health epidemic. Tennessee continues to rank in the top 10 states according to per capita prescription rate for opioids in the United States, and unintentional overdose deaths continue to increase each year. In response, the state has established tools and guidelines for prescribers who prescribe patients with opioids. By implementing these tools, clinicians can effectively address issues related to the clinical management of opioid prescribing, opioid risk management, regulations surrounding the prescribing of opioids, and problematic opioid use by patients. In doing so, healthcare professionals are more likely to achieve a balance between the benefits and risks of opioid prescribing, optimize patient attainment of therapeutic goals, and avoid the risk to patient outcome, public health, and viability of their own practice imposed by deficits in knowledge.

The purpose of this course is to provide updated clinical guidance on management of chronic pain, including opioid prescription drug use that conforms with the Tennessee Department of Health recommendations and core competencies developed by the Commission on Pain and Addiction Medicine Education. Included is a discussion of clinical tools used to assess the risk of drug-seeking and drug-diverting behaviors. The goal is best practice chronic pain management while preventing the growing public health problem of drug misuse, diversion, and overdose.

This course is designed to meet the Tennessee requirement for 2 hours of education on the prescribing of controlled substances, including instruction in the Tennessee Chronic Pain Guidelines. This activity is designed to comply with the requirements of California Assembly Bill 1195, Cultural and Linguistic Competency.

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