Faculty

Needs Statement

Opioid addiction is a significant public health problem in the United States, associated with the spread of infectious diseases, crime, premature death, and significant psychiatric and medical comorbidities. There are an estimated 1 million people meeting Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-IV criteria for prescription opioid dependence according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health and an additional 1 million people addicted to heroin according to the Office of National Drug Control Policy. The Drug Abuse Treatment Act of 2000 combined with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of sublingual buprenorphine, a Schedule III controlled substance, for the treatment of opioid addiction have increased the availability of treatment and brought opioid addiction treatment back into mainstream medical practice. However, the increase in buprenorphine availability has also led to an increase in its misuse and diversion. It is important that diversion of buprenorphine from physician office-based practices be minimized in order to protect public health, avoid the perception that doctors’ treatment of opioid addiction is a problem, and protect the future availability of office-based treatment. This CME will discuss buprenorphine diversion and misuse and teach office-based opioid addiction practices aimed at decreasing and preventing buprenorphine diversion and misuse.

Target Audience

All physicians who are qualified to prescribe buprenorphine in an office-based setting for the treatment of opioid dependence regardless of whether they are currently prescribing buprenorphine products.

Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, you will be able to:

1. Review the pharmacological properties of buprenorphine
2. Discuss the dose guidelines and their pharmacological rationale
3. Recognize dosing/prescribing practices that inadvertently support diversion

 

Accreditation

CME
The University of Kentucky College of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The University of Kentucky College of Medicine designates this enduring material for a maximum of 0.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

The University of Kentucky College of Medicine presents this activity for educational purposes only. Participants are expected to utilize their own expertise and judgment while engaged in the practice of medicine. The content of the presentations is provided solely by presenters who have been selected for presentations because of recognized expertise in their field.

CPE
The University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education.

This knowledge-based activity has been assigned ACPE # 022-000-09-090-H04-P and will award 0.50 contact hour (0.05 CEU) of continuing pharmacy education credit in states that recognize ACPE providers.

Statements of credit will indicate hours and CEUs based on participation and will be issued online at the conclusion of the activity. Successful completion includes completing the activity, its accompanying evaluation and/or posttest (score 70% or higher) and requesting credit online at the conclusion of the activity. The College complies with the Accreditation Standards for Continuing Pharmacy Education.

KBEP
The University of Kentucky is authorized by the Kentucky Board of Examiners in Psychology to provide continuing education for psychologists.

Faculty Disclosure

Sharon Walsh, PhD (speaker and planner) has relevant financial relationships with commercial interests as follows:
Catalyst Pharmaceuticals and World Meds, Inc. - Investigator - Contract Research Support
Reckitt Benckiser and Yaupon Pharmaceuticals - Consultant - Consultant Fees

Michelle R. Lofwall, MD, (planner) has relevant financial relationships with commercial interests as follows:
Reckitt Benckiser - Principal Investigator - Research Grant

No staff members have any relevant financial relationships to disclose.

Disclosure of a relationship is not intended to suggest or condone commercial bias in any presentation, but it is made to provide participants with information that might be of potential importance to their evaluation of a presentation.

Activity Sponsorship

Supported by a research grant from Reckitt Benckiser.