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Opioid Prescribing and Preventing Prescription Abuse

Resources for Physicians

Treating Addiction to Prescription Opioids (The National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2014)
A resource for treating opioid addiction that describes anti-addiction medications and the mechanisms through which they operate.

Massachusetts Prescription Monitoring Program (MA Dept. of Public Health)
All Massachusetts prescribers seeking to prescribe a Schedule II or III medication or a benzodiazepine to a patient for the first time must research that patient's prescribing history in the state Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) database

Quick Drug Screen for Clinicians (NIDA)
A tool designed to assist clinicians serving adult patients in screening for drug use.

Integrating Treatment and Health Care
Resources from the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy

Clinical Guidelines for the Use of Buprenorphine in the Treatment of Opioid Addiction (SAMHSA)

Resources for Patients and Families

Overview of Prescription Drug Abuse (National Institute of Health, 2014)
A resource to learn more about prescription drug abuse information regarding drug facts, statistics, news, prevention, and treatment

Opioid Overdose Toolkit: Safety Advice for Patients & Family Members (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2013)

How Do Opioids Affect the Brain and Body? (The National Institute on Drug Abuse, 2014)
Describes the short and long-term effects of opioids on the user’s body and distinguishes between dependence and addiction.

Physician Focus Special: Treating Pain, with Great Care
A physician discusses how to use prescription pain medication safely.

Prescription Drug Abuse, the Physician’s Perspective (video)
Massachusetts physicians discuss pain medication and management, and the problem of opioid abuse.

Partnership for Drug-Free Kids Helpline
A toll-free hotline service for parents or caregivers seeking support for their child’s drug use

Teen Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention
The National Institute on Drug Abuse website features the “PeerX” initiative, an online educational campaign to discourage abuse of prescription drugs among teens. PeerX also provides creative ways to promote prevention in the community.

CME on Pain Management, Opioid Abuse Prevention and Treatment

Legal Advisor: Identifying Drug Dependence 1.00 CME Credit (risk management)

Managing Risk When Prescribing Narcotic Painkillers for Patients 1.00 CME Credit (risk management)

Opioid Prescribing Series (6 modules), 6.00 CME Credits (risk management)

Prescribing Opioids for Chronic (non-Cancer) Pain
Tapering Opioids, Opioid Therapy Agreements/Contracts, and Drug Testing
Urine Testing and Trends in Opioid Use, Misuse, and Abuse
The Opioid Abuse Epidemic and Commonly Abused Non-Opioid Prescription Drugs
Opioid Use in Special Populations, The Controlled Substances Act, and Naloxone
The Prescription Drug Abuse Plan, Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs, and Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS)

Principles of Palliative Care & Persistent Pain Management (2 Modules, Video), 3.00 CME Credits (risk management)

Safe and Effective Prescribing: Opioids for Chronic Pain
Pain Assessment and Management

Safe and Effective Opioid Prescribing for Chronic Pain 5.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™

CME on Safe Prescribing for Pain and Managing Pain Patients Who Abuse Prescription Drugs
from the National Institute on Drug Abuse

Buprenorphine Training Events Links from the SAMHSA website to qualified training to prescribe buprenorphine in office-based treatment of opiate addiction.