Course Overview

Both the under-treatment of pain and opioid drug abuse are serious problems in our society. Both the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) have recommended that the makers of new scheduled opioid analgesics develop Risk Management Programs (RMPs) that contain strategies for addressing abuse and diversion. One of the key parts of the RMP is an educational program "assuring the safe prescribing of the product by physicians."

This educational program is targeted at physicians. Its aim is to minimize and prevent prescription drug diversion by helping physicians recognize the principles of good pain management and to help them recognize patients at risk of abuse, addiction and diversion of opioid analgesics.

Course Objectives

Physicians who complete this course will enhance their ability to:

• Identify the “street” market for opioid analgesics
• Describe methods used by criminal drug diverters
• Design strategies to minimize drug diversion without harming legitimate patients

Author

Brian Goldman, M.D., M.C.F.P. (EM), F.A.C.E.P.

• Staff Emergency Physician, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Canada
• Assistant Professor, Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Toronto

Dr. Brian Goldman is an internationally recognized expert on the problem of prescription drug diversion. He has given hundreds of seminars and workshops on how to recognize and manage prescription drug seekers to allied health professionals and law enforcement officers. For nine years, Dr. Goldman had a private practice in chronic pain management using opioid analgesics. He is a member of the Task Force of the Canadian Pain Society that developed guidelines on the management of chronic non-cancer pain using opioid analgesics.

Accreditation

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint sponsorship of the Colorado Foundation for Medical Care (CFMC) and LearnSomething. CFMC is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing education for physicians.

The Colorado Foundation for Medical Care designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.25 category 1 credits toward the AMA Physician’s Recognition Award. Each physician should claim only those credits that he/she actually spent in the activity.

CME Requirements

To receive continuing education credit for this activity, participants must review all course content, achieve a score of at least 70% on the Post-test, and complete the Course Evaluation.

Original Release Date: August 31, 2005

Expiration Date: AMA PRA Cat. 1 CME credit expires August 31, 2008

No credit will be given for examinations submitted after this date.

Planning Committee

Gary Glotz, National Sales Director, BuzzeoPDMA Inc., Richmond, VA

Rick Fuelling, Executive Vice President, LearnSomething, Inc., Tallahassee, FL

Fred Abrams, M.D., Colorado Foundation for Medical Care, Denver, CO

Thomas Greene, D.O, Colorado Foundation for Medical Care, Denver, CO

Larry Moore, M.D., Colorado Foundation for Medical Care, Denver, CO

Mary Fletcher, Colorado Foundation for Medical Care, Denver, CO

Lorraine Pickrell, Colorado Foundation for Medical Care, Denver, CO

Disclaimer

This course was developed to provide an overview of opioid drug abuse and diversion related to pain treatment. It is not intended to serve as or substitute for legal advice. Every jurisdiction has rules and regulations that are complex and subject to change. If legal or other professional services are required, you should seek the services of a competent professional.

Educational Grant

This CME course is supported through an unrestricted educational grant from IMPAX Laboratories, Inc. in accordance with the AMA Standards for Industry-Supported Multimedia Continuing Medical Education and Other Communications.