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description Monograph verified MOC Eligible

Opioid Crisis: The Use of Opioid Antagonists in Preventing Opioid Overdose-Related Deaths

Target Audience: Pharmacist, Pharmacy Tech, Physician Assistant, Physician

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local_hospital 3.00 AMA PRA Category 1™
person 3.00 AAPA Category 1
groups 3.00 IPCE Credits

Course Overview

Opioid-related overdose deaths make up three-fourths of all overdose deaths in the United States. In order to reduce the number of deaths, efforts must be made to save patients who overdose on opioids. Naloxone, an opioid receptor antagonist, is the most effective medication to reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. Naloxone is available in several formulations to facilitate efficient, timely administration. Increasing access to naloxone, so it is readily available when needed, is vital to combating the opioid crisis.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this educational activity, participants should be able to:

  • Identify risk factors for opioid overdose
  • Compare the indications for naloxone, nalmefene, and naltrexone in opioid use disorder
  • Apply strategies for preventing opioid overdose
  • Explain interprofessional team opportunities for educating patients regarding opioid overdose

Faculty

Authors & Activity Planners
Steve Malen, PharmD, MBA
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Dr. Steve Malen graduated with a dual degree: Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) and Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Rhode Island. Over his career, he has worked as a clinical pharmacist in the retail, specialty, and compounding sectors. He specialized and taught on topics from vaccines to veterinary compounding. Dr. Malen has also written a science fiction novel and taught and cofounded the concept of Patient Empowered Blockchain (P.E.B.). Currently, Dr. Malen continues to write, teach, and consult various companies in the healthcare sector.
Becca Resnik, RN
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Becca Resnik received her nursing degree from Chattanooga State Community College. She has an MA in Translation Studies from the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom, and a BS in Nuclear Engineering Technology from Excelsior University, Albany, New York. Becca Resnik also has a Medical Writing Certificate from the University of Connecticut School of Pharmacy. Becca Resnik maintains an active Registered Nurse license.
Sandra Rogers, MD
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Sandra Rogers, MD, is a primary care physician in Texas. She is board-certified through the American Board of Family Medicine and the American Board of Internal Medicine.
Additional Faculty & Reviewers
Pamela Sardo, Pharm.D., B.S.
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Pamela Sardo, Pharm.D., B.S. is a licensed pharmacist and Freelance Medical Writer at Sardo Solutions in Texas.
L. Austin Fredrickson, MD, FACP
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Dr. Fredrickson is an assistant professor of internal medicine at Northeast Ohio Medical University, where he serves as core faculty and teaches diagnostics, therapeutics, clinical skills, and health humanities. He is board-certified in general internal medicine and practices rural primary care.

Maintenance of Certification (MOC): Continuing Certification is offered for the American Board of Internal Medicine® (ABIM) and the American Board of Pediatrics® (ABP).

Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to 3.0 Medical Knowledge MOC points. Participants will earn MOC points equivalent to the amount of CME credits claimed for the activity. It is the CME activity provider's responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting MOC credit.

Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component and post-test, qualifies for MOC points with the following boards:

American Board of Anesthesiology (ABA)
  • Anesthesiology
American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM)
  • Geriatrics & Palliative Care
  • Hospital Medicine
  • Internal Medicine
  • Introduction
  • Overview of the Opioid Crisis
  • Main Reasons for Opioid Misuse
  • A Brief Overview of Appropriate Opiate Use Indications
  • Opioid Use Dependence and Addiction
  • Risk Factors for Opioid Overdose
    • Patient Demographics
    • Mental Health Diagnoses
    • Substance Use Disorders
    • Medical Comorbidities
    • Opioid Prescription Characteristics
    • Insurance
    • Reduced Tolerance and Other Factors
  • Mechanisms and Symptoms of Opioid Overdose
  • Prevention of Opioid Overdose
    • Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD)
  • Responsible Prescribing of Opioids
  • Treating Opioid Overdose with Opioid Antagonists
    • Naloxone for Suspected Opioid Overdose
    • Nalmefene: A Novel Opioid Antagonist for Overdose Reversal and Alcohol Management
    • Naltrexone and Overdose Reversal
  • Co-Prescribing Recommendation
  • Barriers to Preventing Prescription Opioid Overdoses
  • Overcoming Barriers
    • What can Physicians and Physician Assistants do to Reduce Prescription Opioid Overdoses?
    • What can Nurses do to Reduce Prescription Opioid Overdoses?
    • What can Pharmacy Teams do to Reduce Prescription Opioid Overdoses?
  • Patient Case
  • Naloxone Executive Clinical Summary

From February 7, 2026 through February 7, 2029, participants must:

  1. Read the "learning objectives" and "author and planning team disclosures"
  2. Study the section entitled "educational activity"
  3. Complete the Course Test and Evaluation form. The Course Test will be graded automatically. Following successful completion of the Course Test with a score of 70% or higher, a statement of participation will be made available immediately. (No partial credit will be given.)

Credit for this course will be automatically uploaded to JA_PARS.

Faculty Planner Disclosure

The following individuals were involved in developing this activity: Sandra Rogers, MD; Becca Resnik, RN; Steven Malen, PharmD, MBA; and Pamela Sardo, PharmD, BS. None of the faculty members has a conflict of interest or financial relationship related to the subject matter of this activity, except that Becca Resnik discloses that she is an independent contractor (Translator/Engineer, 08/12/2024 to present) for Johnson & Johnson, Zuchwil, Switzerland, and DePuy Synthes. Any relevant financial relationships have been mitigated.

Unlabeled Use Disclosure

The information provided in this course is general in nature, and it is designed solely to provide participants with continuing education credit(s). This course and materials are not meant to substitute for the independent, professional judgment of any participant regarding that participant's professional practice, including but not limited to patient assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and/or health management. Medical and pharmacy practices, rules, and laws vary from state to state, and this course does not cover the laws of each state; therefore, participants must consult the laws of their state as they relate to their professional practice. Healthcare professionals must consult their employer, healthcare facility, hospital, or other organization for guidelines, protocols, and procedures to follow. The information provided in this course does not replace those guidelines, protocols, and procedures, but is for academic purposes only, and this course's limited purpose is for the completion of continuing education credits. Participants are advised and acknowledge that information related to medications, their administration, dosing, contraindications, adverse reactions, interactions, warnings, precautions, or accepted uses is constantly changing. Any person taking this course understands that such a person must make an independent review of medication information before any patient assessment, diagnosis, treatment and/or health management. Any discussion of off-label use of any medication, device, or procedure is informational only, and such uses are not endorsed hereby. Nothing contained in this course represents the opinions, views, judgments, or conclusions of RxCe.com LLC. RxCe.com LLC is not liable or responsible to any person for any inaccuracy, error, or omission with respect to this course or course material.

Please ensure the device you plan to use meets these requirements:

  • Operating System: Windows 7, 8, 10, or 11 / Mac OS X 10.9 or later / iOS / Android
  • Supported Browsers: Microsoft Edge, Firefox, Google Chrome, Safari, Opera
  • A connection to the internet

Accreditation

In support of improving patient care, RxCE.com is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.