Pain & Addiction, Best Practices & Proper Prescribing: The Transformation in the Treatment & Recovery of Mental Illness & Addiction
Released
March 5, 2026
Expires
March 1, 2029
Credits
3.25 CME, 3.9 Nursing, 3.25 ADA CERP
Credit Fee
Free to view, $55 to claim credit
Target Audience
This course is designed for all clinicians—physicians, dentists, nurses, physician assistants and others—who prescribe opioid medications and who care for patients receiving opioid medications.
Following completion of this web course, participants should be able to:
describe current statistics on addiction and behavioral health and the trajectory of the addiction crisis
identify referral resources available for WV residents to address substance use disorder and/or mental health issues.
identify emerging policy changes that will affect practice and patients
recognize current challenges in the state in addressing mental health and addiction
describe best practice methods for working with patients suspected of drug seeking behavior, diversion and other aberrant behavior
describe the tactics and behaviors of suspected doctor shopping, drug seeking and drug diversion
explain prescribing and administration of an opioid antagonist
describe best practices for indication and contraindication of opioids in chronic pain treatment, and general characteristics, including toxicities and drug interactions
describe risk assessment and tools, examination and evaluation of the pain patient
describe evidence for initiation and ongoing management of chronic pain patients treated with opioid based therapies, including treatment objectives; monitoring and periodic review; referrals and consultations; informed consent; prescription of controlled substance agreements, urine screens and pill counts; patient education on safe use, storage and disposal of opioids; discontinuation of opioids for pain due to lack of benefits or increased risks; documentation and medical records
describe the epidemiology of chronic pain and misuse of opioids including the economic social impact
describe patient risk stratification and its impact on decision-making in opioid prescribing
identify specific statutory requirements of the WV Board of Pharmacy, WV Board of Medicine and WV Board of Osteopathic Medicine relating to controlled substance prescribers
recognize the importance of registering and using the WV Controlled Substances Monitoring Program established in WV Code Chapter 60A, Article 9
describe recent legislative changes, compliance with controlled substance laws and rules related to substance abuse and prescription drug abuse
explain and discuss current WV statistics on prescription drug diversion, abuse, intoxications and resulting deaths
recognize the importance of utilizing the WV Board of Pharmacy query to detect “doctor shopping” and diversion behaviors
describe the role of the Chief Medical Examiner in death investigations
explain the competent certification of deaths for the purposes of Vital Statistics