Pain Management and the Opioid Epidemic: Strategies for the Dental Team

Overview

Please note your TIME ZONE!

This Course is a Live Webinar and will be live-streamed:

8:00 pm ET, 7:00 pm CT, 6:00 pm MT, 6:00 pm AZ, 5:00 pm PT

CDE: 2 hours

Course Overview:

The Opioid Epidemic now claims well over 100,000 lives per year in the United States and there is no indication that the upward trajectory of overdose deaths will abate in the foreseeable future.  Health care professionals, including dentists, dental hygienists and dental assistants, should understand the evolving pattern of illicit drug use in the U.S., as well as the types of drugs being diverted and abused, to provide safe dental treatment to patients who may be affected by addiction.  This program updates dental professionals on the current status of the Opioid Epidemic, the recognition of addiction and substance use disorder (SUD) in dental patients, the implications of addiction for patient management, and reviews related topics, including palliative and end-of-life care.   This course partially meets the requirements of the DEA MATE rule.  (2 hours C.D.E.)

Course Objectives:

1.  Review the current status of the U.S. Opioid Epidemic

2.  Select safe and effective analgesic drugs based on scientific evidence;

3.  Understand the risks of abuse and addiction associated with opioid medications;

4.  Identify patients at risk for substance use disorders;

5.  Be able to counsel patients about adverse effects, addictive nature and proper storage and disposal of prescription medications;

6.  Determine appropriate quantities for prescription medications that have an increased risk of abuse, based on studies of pain associated with various dental procedures; and

7.  Review the clinical pharmacology of opioid antagonists, overdose prevention treatments, and situations in which a patient may be advised on both the use of and ways to access opioid antagonists and overdose prevention treatments.