Legitimate access to opioid analgesics is necessary for the management of pain, but physicians have a responsibility to minimize the potential for abuse and diversion of these medications. Research shows that physicians are often unaware of the ultimate fate of the medications they prescribe, and may unwittingly fuel the diversion and abuse of these drugs, even when prescribing is legitimate and well-intentioned. Teens and young adults are particularly at risk for abusing medications.
This program will identify issues around prescription drug abuse and diversion, with a focus on teens and young adults, and present strategies for physicians to reduce the risk of abuse.
Students from a recovery high school and university recovery program will be present live to recount their experiences with prescription drug abuse, including how/why they began abusing prescription drugs, their access to medications, how their drugs of choice evolved over time, and their trajectory of drug use to addiction.
The faculty will provide clinicians with best-practice protocols to reduce illegitimate access to opioids, including strategies to educate legitimate patients about safeguarding their medications, and practices for careful risk assessment and monitoring to reduce abuse and diversion risk.
Faculty
Lynn R. Webster, MD
Steven D. Passik, PhD
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and Policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint sponsorship of University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ)-Center for Continuing and Outreach Education and PharmaCom Group.
UMDNJ-Center for Continuing and Outreach Education designates this activity for a maximum of 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)TM . Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
This activity is supported by an educational grant from King Pharmaceuticals. |