This CME activity will enable doctors to recognize when risks of chronic opioid therapy outweigh benefits, and how to safely and compassionately taper patients off of chronic opioid therapy (including the use of buprenorphine to make this transition). A real life patient case scenario will be used to illustrate these principles in practice, including what to say to patients to communicate risks and provide support through the difficult period of withdrawal. When to refer for addiction treatment will also be discussed.
This course is designed to meet the educational needs of physicians and nurses in primary care, family practice, internal medicine, neurology, oncology, psychiatry, addiction medicine, and interested Allied Health Professionals.