The curriculum, developed by nationally known experts in pain management, addiction, and opioids, thoughtfully balances the risks and benefits of opioid prescribing, providing the latest insights in this vital healthcare area. It covers many important topics, including understanding the nature and pathophysiology of pain, effective patient assessment, creating patient-centered pain treatment plans, non-pharmaceutical pain treatment options, managing patients on opioid analgesics, educating patients and caregivers, and addressing opioid use disorder.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of this session, learners should be able to:

• Recognize the origin(s) and types of pain as they relate to pain management and opioid use disorder (OUD).
• Fully assess persons experiencing pain, including risk for OUD.
• Develop safe and effective pain management plans using nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic (non-opioid or opioid) options.
• Partner with patients to reduce risks when taking opioid therapy.

Target Audience:

This activity is designed for physicians, physician associates/assistants, and nurse practitioners.

Participation and Credit:

To earn credit for this educational activity, learners must register and fully participate. Before beginning the activity, learners should review the target audience, learning objectives, and author disclosures. Learners are required to engage with the educational content online and complete the activity evaluation. Upon successful completion of these requirements, a certificate will be available as a downloadable link. Learners may print the certificate for their records; however, they may not alter it. For information regarding the applicability and acceptance of continuing education credit for this activity, please consult your professional licensing board.

Unlabeled Use Disclosure:

This activity will not include discussions of products or devices that are not currently approved for use by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Support:

This education is supported by an independent educational grant from the Opioid Analgesics REMS Program Companies (RPC). Please see www.opioidanalgesicrems.com/Resources/Docs/List_of_RPC_Companies.pdf for a listing of the member companies. This activity is intended to be fully compliant with the Opioid Analgesic REMS education requirements issued by the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA). 

Fee:

There is no charge for this activity.

Cultural/Linguistic Competency:

CAFP policy and California state law requires that each learning activity have elements of cultural and linguistic proficiency included in the content. The definition of cultural and linguistic competency is the ability and readiness of health care providers and health organizations to humbly and respectfully demonstrate, effectively communicate, and tailor delivery of care to patients with diverse values, beliefs, identities, and behaviors, in order to meet patients’ social, cultural, and linguistic needs as it relates to patient health. This activity meets these requirements.

Implicit Bias:

CAFP policy and California state law requires that all CME activities comprising a patient care element include either (1) examples of how implicit bias affects perceptions and treatment decisions of physicians and surgeons, leading to disparities in health outcomes and/or (2) strategies to address how unintended biases in decision-making may contribute to health care disparities by shaping behavior and producing differences in medical treatment along lines of race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, socioeconomic status, or other characteristics. This activity meets these requirements.

Privacy Policy:

The California Academy of Family Physicians (CAFP) is committed to protecting the privacy of its members and customers. CAFP maintains safeguards to store and secure information it has about members and customers. The safeguards may be physical, electronic or procedural. For more information, contact [email protected].

Questions:

For questions regarding the content of this activity or for technical assistance, contact [email protected].

The CAFP has made all reasonable efforts to ensure that information contained herein is accurate in accordance with the latest available scientific knowledge at the time of accreditation of this continuing education program. Information regarding drugs (e.g., their administration, dosages, contraindications, adverse reactions, interactions, special warnings, and precautions) and drug delivery systems is subject to change, however, and the learner is advised to check the manufacturer's package insert for information concerning recommended dosage and potential problems or cautions prior to dispensing or administering the drug or using the drug delivery systems.

Approval of credit for this continuing education program does not imply endorsement by CAFP of any product or manufacturer identified.

Any medications or treatment methods suggested in this CME activity should not be used by the practitioner without evaluation of their patient's condition(s) and possible contraindication(s) or danger(s) of use of any specific medication.

Copyright:

© 2025 California Academy of Family Physicians. No part of this activity may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embedded in articles or reviews.