Opioids and Opioid Use Disorder: Addressing the Epidemic from the Emergency Department

Needs Statement

The ACGME requires that all programs “provide instruction and experience in pain management if applicable for the specialty including recognition of the signs of addiction.” This learning module addresses this need from the perspective of emergency room clinicians and provides information on how clinicians may address the substance use epidemic from their roles in the emergency department.

Educational Objectives

At the conclusion of the activity, participants should be able to:

• Identify signs and symptoms of opioid use disorder (OUD) and opioid withdrawal.
• Discuss management strategies for OUD and opioid withdrawal.
• Identify available resources for outpatient care designed for patients with opioid use disorder and refer patients to outpatient care after Emergency Department discharge.
• Implement the “Stabilize, Diagnose, and Link” framework to facilitate the connection of patients with substance use disorders to appropriate treatment services.
• Refer patients with opioid use disorders to appropriate resources for outpatient care.

Target Audience

Activity Evaluation

Evaluation by questionnaire will address program content, presentation, and possible bias.

Educational Methods

• Lectures

Accreditation/Credit Designation

Baylor College of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Baylor College of Medicine designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 1.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

This presentation has been designated by Baylor College of Medicine for 1.25 credit of education in pain management and the prescription of opioids.

Term of Approval

November 1, 2023 through November 30, 2025. Original release date: November 1, 2023.

Disclosure Policy

Baylor College of Medicine (BCM) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education (CME) for physicians. BCM is committed to sponsoring CE activities that are scientifically based, accurate, current, and objectively presented.

In accordance with the ACCME Standards for Commercial Support, BCM has implemented a mechanism requiring everyone in a position to control the content of an educational activity (i.e., directors, planning committee members, faculty) to disclose any relevant financial relationships with commercial interests (drug/device companies) and manage/resolve any conflicts of interest prior to the activity. Individuals must disclose to participants the existence or non-existence of financial relationships at the time of the activity or within 24 months prior.

In addition, BCM has requested activity faculty/presenters to disclose to participants any unlabeled use or investigational use of pharmaceutical/device products; to use scientific or generic names (not trade names) in referring to products; and, if necessary to use a trade name, to use the names of similar products or those within a class. Faculty/presenters have also been requested to adhere to the ACCME's validation of clinical content statements.

BCM does not view the existence of financial relationships with commercial interests as implying bias or decreasing the value of a presentation. It is up to participants to determine whether the relationships influence the activity faculty with regard to exposition or conclusions. If at any time during this activity you feel that there has been commercial/promotional bias, notify the Activity Director or Activity Coordinator. Please answer the questions about balance and objectivity in the activity evaluation candidly.

All of the relevant financial relationships listed for these individuals have been mitigated.