The drug overdose crisis in the United States began in the 1990s. This crisis was fueled by a growth in opioid prescriptions by healthcare providers and is referred to as the first wave. The first wave was followed by a second wave, driven by a rise in heroin use. A third wave followed, which was highlighted by the use of synthetic opioids. Now, a fourth wave has emerged in the opioid overdose crisis. This wave is marked by polysubstance misuse involving opioids (primarily fentanyl) combined with stimulants. These waves have caused a progressively higher number of drug overdose deaths in the United States. However, since late 2023, overdose deaths have steadily declined each month a strong sign that public health interventions are making a difference and having a meaningful impact. This activity reviews the distinctive features of each wave of the drug overdose crisis, the increasing role of polysubstance misuse in the fourth wave, the emergence of novel substances, and the differences when assessing, diagnosing, and treating opioid and stimulant overdoses and use disorders.
Credit & MOC Details
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MOC types
FDA REMS
Qualifies for MIPS
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Pricing
CME included with membership · $42–99/yr
| Pharmacist Unlimited Plan | $69/yr |
| Pharmacy Tech Unlimited Plan | $42/yr |
| Physician (MD/DO) Unlimited Plan | $99/yr |
| Physician Assistant Unlimited Plan | $99/yr |
| Individual Course (Pharmacy) | $6.99 |
| Individual Course (Physician/PA, per credit) | $6 |
Collected from the provider’s public pages · source
Specialties served/covered
- Adolescent Medicine
- Cardiovascular Disease
- Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology
- Critical Care Medicine
- Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism
- Family Medicine
- Gastroenterology
- General Internal Medicine
- General Pediatrics
- General Surgery
- Geriatric Medicine
- Health Equity & Inclusion
- Hematology
- Hospice & Palliative Medicine
- Hospital Medicine
- Interventional Cardiology
- Medical Oncology
- Medical Toxicology
- Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine
- Nephrology
- Neurocritical Care
- Neurodevelopmental Disabilities
- Pain Medicine
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Pediatric Critical Care Medicine
- Pediatric Emergency Medicine
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Pulmonary Disease
- Rheumatology
- Cardio-Vascular
- Cross-Specialty
- Emergency & Critical Care
- GI & Liver
- Infectious Disease
- Internal Medicine
- Medical Subspecialties
- Neurology
- Oncology & Hematology
- Pain & Palliative
- Pediatrics
- Primary care
- Surgery
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- Enduring / On-demand
- Credit · Up to 3 credits
- MOC · Up to 3 points
- $8.99–69
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ReleasedMay 24, 2026
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Last day to claim creditMay 25, 2029 3 years left
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American Society of Addiction Medicine Optimizing Opioid Overdose Response: Compassion During Crisis
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Carlat CME Institute Hidden Dangers: The Fentanyl Crisis and Teen Overdose Prevention, March 31, 2025
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Nationwide Children’s Hospital 2024 PGROD: A Classroom of Teens Every Week: How pediatric clinicians can address the national overdose crisis
