The Role of Opioids in Pain Management

This course will provide health care professionals with the most up-to-date evidence-based knowledge and practical strategies for managing opioid use and mitigating risks for patients with acute or chronic pain and will focus on practical tools and strategies to assist with making informed decisions about opioid prescribing and pain management. The course will include an overview of the current state of the evidence on opioids, addressing common myths and biases that can influence clinical decision-making. Participants will learn how to conduct opioid risk assessments and design individualized treatment plans and will receive guidance on how to educate patients about the potential risks and benefits of opioid therapy, as well as alternative non-opioid approaches to pain management. The course will cover the latest recommendations for opioid risk management, including monitoring and mitigating adverse effects and when to reconsider opioid therapy. Participants will learn best practices for opioid tapering and managing acute and chronic pain in patients with opioid use disorder. Harm reduction strategies will also be discussed, including naloxone prescribing and overdose prevention. The course will emphasize an interprofessional perspective and will include live sessions where participants can collaborate with colleagues to discuss complex pain management cases and explore different perspectives and treatment options. Difficult conversations related to opioids will be addressed, including how to communicate with patients and members of the health care team about challenging issues related to opioid prescribing.