New training materials for health providers who prescribe or counsel patients about opioids for pain relief, are now available on NIDA’s website. The two courses, entitled Safe Prescribing for Pain and Managing Patients Who Abuse Prescription Drugs, include video vignettes modeling doctor patient conversations on the safe and effective use of opioid pain medications. The materials are part of the NIDAMED initiative, to help physicians, medical interns and residents, and other clinicians understand and address the complex problem of prescription drug abuse.
The educational modules are currently being offered for continuing medical education (CME) credit on the Medscape website. Over 20,000 clinicians have already completed these courses since their launch on October 1, 2012. The modules—now available on the NIDA website (not for CME credit)—can be adapted for use in the syllabi of academic medical schools.
The training materials are funded by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). Read more here. For more information, contact the NIDA press office at media@nida.nih.gov or 301-443-6245.