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Pharmacology
Pharmacology
Version 1.0
Audio version available

Best Practices for Prescribing Opioids and Recognizing Pain, Drug Diversion, and Substance Abuse

To provide healthcare providers an overview of pain, opioid use disorder, and current practices in prescribing controlled substances.

A nurse discussing a pain treatment plan with a patient across a clinic desk.
Contact hours
3
Format
Self-paced, online
Last reviewed
—

$15.00or included with All-Access

$5 per contact hour · 3 contact hours

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  • No post-test required · unlimited retakes · evaluation and attestation always required

Course Purpose

To provide healthcare providers an overview of pain, opioid use disorder, and current practices in prescribing controlled substances.

Continuing Education Credit Designation

This educational activity is credited for 3 contact hours at completion of the activity.

Overview

One of the single most difficult challenges for any prescriber is to distinguish between the legitimate prescription of controlled substances and the prescription potentially used for illegitimate purposes. To differentiate between the two, prescribers need to understand the signs, symptoms, and treatment of acute and chronic pain, as well as the signs and symptoms of patients using controlled substances for non-legitimate purposes. This learning topic provides an overview of pain, opioid use disorder, and current practices in prescribing controlled substances.

Objectives

Upon completion of this independent study, the learner will be able to:

  1. Define controlled substances and drug use disorder.
  2. Distinguish between drug misuse and drug use disorder.
  3. Explain the Controlled Substance Act, the various classifications of scheduled drugs, and drugs that are most likely to be misused.
  4. Describe drug seeking behaviors and possible treatment options.
  5. Discuss guidelines for safe prescribing of drugs.

Policy Statement

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the policies of FastCEForLess.com. This course should be used for informational purposes only and should not be used to diagnose, treat, prescribe, recommend, or initiate therapies or treatments in any setting. This course is copyrighted by Fast CE For Less, Inc. and may not be replicated, copied, or dispersed without written consent.

Disclosures

Fast CE For Less, Inc. and its authors have no disclosures. There is no commercial support.

Who this course is for:

Advanced Practice Registered Nurses, registered nurses, licensed practical or vocational nurses, and other healthcare providers in any setting who want continuing education on Best Practices for Prescribing Opioids and Recognizing Pain, Drug Diversion, and Substance Abuse.

Course outline

21 sections · finish in any order across devices

  1. 1

    Introduction

  2. 2

    Pain

  3. 3

    Pain Pathways

  4. 4

    Pain Modulation and Transmission of Pain

  5. 5

    Psychologic Factors Causing Pain

  6. 6

    Controlled Substance Act

  7. 7

    Schedule I

  8. 8

    Schedule II

  9. 9

    Schedule III

  10. 10

    Schedule IV

  11. 11

    Schedule V

  12. 12

    Drug Use Disorder, Abuse, and Misuse

  13. 13

    Diversion

  14. 14

    Signs and Symptoms of Drug Seeking and Diversion

  15. 15

    Pill Shopping

  16. 16

    Assessing for Opioid Use Disorder

  17. 17

    Evaluation of Pain

  18. 18

    Treatment of Pain

  19. 19

    Conclusion

  20. 20

    Prescribing Opioids Posttest

  21. 21

    Prescribing Opioids Posttest Answers

References

The full reference list is included inside the course, after the Conclusion.

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