This activity was originally presented as a part of Directions in Pharmacy 2025.
Program Description
Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a major public health crisis in the United States, contributing to substantial opioid-related overdose deaths each year and significant health care, criminal justice, and economic burdens. Pharmacists are often on the front lines of combating the opioid epidemic and OUD through efforts including counseling patients on proper use, identifying potential misuse, and ensuring safe dispensing practices. In this session, participants will review a range of treatment options for OUD, including medication-assisted treatment and psychosocial therapies, and learn essential patient-centered communication techniques for addressing OUD with empathy and compassion. This increased responsibility requires pharmacists to stay up to date with regulatory changes, best practices for pain management, and approaches to support patients with OUD. This session will provide pharmacists with actionable strategies to encourage safe and effective pain management while mitigating the risks associated with OUD.
Target audience: Community and health system pharmacists
Type of activity: Application
Release date: June 16, 2025
Expiration date: June 16, 2026
Time to complete activity: 1.0 hour
Learner level: Foundational, Intermediate
Fee: Free
Educational Objectives
At the completion of this activity, participants will be able to:
- Examine the neurobiological mechanisms underlying opioid use disorder (OUD) and how opioid exposure alters brain pathways involved in reward, motivation, and withdrawal
- Compare the pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatment options for OUD and develop a treatment plan for a patient with concurrent pain and OUD
- Demonstrate appropriate patient-centered communication techniques to express concern and engage in a discussion with a patient suspected of developing OUD
Chris M. Herndon, PharmD, BCACP
Professor and Vice Chair
Department of Pharmacy Practice
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Edwardsville, Illinois
Pharmacy Times Continuing Education™ is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. This activity is approved for 1.0 contact hour (0.10 CEU) under the ACPE universal activity number 0290-0000-25-192-H08-P. The activity is available for CE credit through June 16, 2026.
Instructions for Completing the Activity and Receiving CPE Credit
To receive CPE credit, participants must complete the pretest, review the activity in its entirety, complete the posttest, and complete the online activity evaluation. After successful completion of the online activity evaluation, you can submit your credit to CPE Monitor. You may view your credit within 48 hours at www.mycpemonitor.net. All participants must request credit before the activity expiration date. CE credit will not be issued after this date.
Disclosures
The following contributors have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose:
Faculty
Chris M. Herndon, PharmD, BCACP
Pharmacy Times Continuing Education™ Planning Staff—Jim Palatine, RPh, MBA; Maryjo Dixon, RPh, MBA; Dipti Desai, PharmD, MBA, CHCP; Kylie Ferrentino; Susan Pordon; Brianna Winters; Chloe Taccetta; and Rebecca Green have no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose.
At least one anonymous peer reviewer was used as part of content validation and conflict resolution. The peer reviewer has no relevant financial relationships with commercial interests to disclose.
Educational Disclaimer
CPE activities are offered solely for educational purposes and do not constitute any form of professional advice or referral. Discussions concerning drugs, dosages, and procedures may reflect the clinical experience of the author(s) or they may be derived from the professional literature or other sources and may suggest uses that are investigational in nature and not approved labeling or indications. Participants are encouraged to refer to primary references or full prescribing information resources.
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[email protected]
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