Prescribing Opioids, Providing Naloxone, and Preventing Drug Diversion: The West Virginia Requirement

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, with West Virginia among the states with the largest opioid misuse and diversion problem. A set of clinical tools, guidelines, and recommendations are now available for prescribers who treat pain 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 clinicians who prescribe or distribute opioids with an appreciation for the complexities of opioid prescribing and the dual risks of litigation due to inadequate pain control and drug diversion or misuse in order to provide the best possible patient care and to prevent a growing social problem.

This program has been approved by the WV Board of Medicine and the WV Board of Osteopathic Medicine and will satisfy the required 3 hours of CME for Drug Diversion Training and Best Practice Prescribing of Controlled Substances Training for MDs, DOs, and their licensed Physician Assistants.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:

  1. Define opioid prescribing and opioid misuse.
  2. Apply epidemiologic trends in opioid use and misuse to current practice so at-risk patient populations can be more easily identified, assessed, and treated.
  3. Create comprehensive treatment plans for patients with chronic pain that address patient needs as well as drug diversion prevention.
  4. Identify state and federal laws governing the proper prescription and monitoring of controlled substances.
  5. Evaluate behaviors that may indicate drug seeking or diverting as well as approaches for patients suspected of misusing opioids.

91603

Additional Information

Partner: 
NetCE
Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 3.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit
  • 3.00 ANCC
Course opens: 
05/01/2023
Course expires: 
04/30/2026
Cost:
$21.00
Rating: 
0

Available Credit

  • 3.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit
  • 3.00 ANCC

Price

Cost:
$21.00
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NetCE Course Number: 91603

This course is offered through NetCE.

To take this course you will be redirected to NetCE website. You must login or create an account with NetCE in order to complete this activity. 

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