Introduction to Safe Prescribing of Opioids for Pain Management

CME Certificate Fee: $25.00 (USD) for certificate

1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)^TM

Estimated time to complete this activity: 1.00 hours

Author(s)/Editor(s): Randa Kutob, MD
DISCLOSURE STATEMENT: All author(s), contributor(s), editor(s), and CME Office Reviewer(s) state that they do not have any financial arrangements with ineligible companies (commercial interests) that could constitute a conflict of interest.
Further Author/Editor Information | Further CME Information

Meets Special CME Requirements in: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, U.S. Virgin Islands, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming Learn More >>

New York Licensees: This course will NOT meet the NY pain management/palliative care/addiction requirement for prescribers.

Meets the DEA Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE) requirement.

Outcome Objectives:

As a result of completing this activity, the participant will be better able to:

Review epidemiological data on opioid-related morbidity and mortality
Identify key aspects of the medical assessment for patients suffering from pain syndromes
Use preferred modalities and medications for the treatment of acute and chronic non-terminal pain
When opioids are prescribed, describe appropriate risk assessment and risk reduction strategies

Learning Format: Case-based, interactive online course, including mandatory assessment questions (number of questions varies by course or module). Please also read the Technical Requirements.

CME Provider: University of Arizona College of Medicine - Tucson
Credit Designation and Accreditation Statements >>

Current CME Approval Period: June 22, 2025 - June 21, 2028

Original Release Date: June 22, 2017

Most Recent Review by Author: June 22, 2022

Most Recent Review by CME Provider: June 22, 2025

Financial Support Received: Supported by Grant Number 1U17CE002717-01, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the Department of Health and Human Services.

Introduction to Safe Prescribing of Opioids for Pain Management

1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)^TM

Current CME Approval Period: June 22, 2025 - June 21, 2028

ACCME/AMA PRA Accreditation Statement

The University of Arizona College of Medicine - Tucson is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The University of Arizona College of Medicine - Tucson designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)^TM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

CME Office Contact Information and CME Disclosure

The University of Arizona College of Medicine - Tucson
Office of Continuing Medical Education
520-626-7832
uofacme@arizona.edu

The following University of Arizona College of Medicine - Tucson CME Reviewers, Activity Directors, or Planning Committee Members have no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies (commercial interests) that could constitute a conflict of interest with the proposed activity:

Robert Amend, M.Ed.
Randa Kutob, MD

Introduction to Safe Prescribing of Opioids for Pain Management

About the Author

Randa Kutob, MD
Dr. Kutob is an Associate Professor of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Tucson and Director of the Office of Continuing Medical Education. She is a board-certified Family Medicine physician and Diplomate of the American Board of Obesity Medicine with extensive teaching, clinical work, and research in the arena of cross-cultural care and chronic disease prevention and treatment.

Disclosure: Dr. Kutob states that she does not have any financial arrangements that could constitute a conflict of interest.

About the Reviewers/Editors

Daniel Derksen, MD
Dr. Derksen is the Walter H. Pearce Endowed Chair and Director of the University of Arizona (UA) Center for Rural Health (AzCRH). He is also Professor in the Public Health Policy and Management Program at UA's Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health. As AzCRH Director, he oversees the State Office of Rural Health (AzSORH), the Rural Hospital Flexibility Program (AzFlex), the Small Rural Hospital Improvement Program (AzSHIP), and the AzCRH Navigator Consortium.

Disclosure: Dr. Derksen states that he does not have any financial arrangements that could constitute a conflict of interest.

Aram Mardian, MD
Dr. Mardian is Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix and Chief of the Chronic Pain Wellness Center at the Phoenix VA Health Care System. He is a board-certified family physician and holds additional certifications in pain medicine and medical acupuncture. He serves as Co-Chair for the Health Care Advisory Team for the Arizona Prescription Drug Misuse & Abuse Initiative.

Disclosure: Dr. Mardian states that he does not have any financial arrangements that could constitute a conflict of interest.

William C. Thompson IV, MD
Dr. Thompson is a Pain Medicine Specialist board certified in both Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine. He is the Vice President of the Arizona Society of Interventional Pain Physicians and a board member of the Arizona Society of Anesthesiologists. He serves on the Arizona Department of Health Services Prescription Drug Misuse and Abuse Initiative Health Care Advisory Team.

Disclosure: Dr. Thompson states that he does not have any financial arrangements that could constitute a conflict of interest.

Introduction to Safe Prescribing of Opioids for Pain Management

Ratings (5636 responses)


How would you rate this program overall? Average Rating: 4.00/5.00

How well were the learning objectives of this program met? Average Rating: 4.25/5.00


User Comments


by Hidden \| Jun 30, 2025 I enjoyed going through this activity.

by Christopher Bird \| Jun 29, 2025 I feel blaming physicians for the opioid epidemic is not looking at the whole picture. Physicians and the Sackler family got it kick started but the country would be in this mess anyway. Fentanyl deaths in rural America are not due to prescriptions. Raw materials from China go to Mexico. Fentanyl is produced in Mexico then smuggled here. “Back in the day” physicians were told to not under treat pain, so the prescribing habits were a product of the times.

by robert carroll \| May 26, 2025 I do not manage pain patients and am enrolled in this CME activity only due to the SC state requirements

by Hidden \| Apr 20, 2025 limiting narcotic presciptions to 5 days might push patients to obtain fentanyl from the street. It is cheap and readily available and of course far more lethal. How do we help prevent this

by Josef Eichinger \| Apr 4, 2025 None. well organized.

by Kimberley Slaughter \| Mar 27, 2025 I have no recommendations at this time. This CE was very engaging and interactive.

Introduction to Safe Prescribing of Opioids for Pain Management

This course meets general AMA PRA Category 1 CME Credit(s)^TM requirements in states that have a CME requirement.

Based on information from state licensing authorities, this program meets special CME requirements in these states:

	Alabama Controlled Substance Prescribing Practices CME
	Alabama DEA Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE)
	Alaska DEA Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE)
	Alaska Pain Management, Opioid Use, and Addiction CME
	Arizona Opioid-Related, Substance Use-Related, or Addiction-Related CME
	Arizona DEA Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE)
	Arkansas DEA Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE)
	Arkansas Prescribing of Opioids and Benzodiazepines CME
	California Pain Management CME
	California Controlled Substance Education (Physician Assistant CME Requirement) Required for PAs, not MD/DOs.
	California DEA Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE)
	Colorado DEA Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE)
	Connecticut DEA Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE)
	Connecticut Behavioral Health CME
	Delaware Controlled Substance Prescribing Practices CME
	Delaware DEA Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE)
	District of Columbia Pharmacology CME
	District of Columbia Public Health Topics CME
	District of Columbia DEA Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE)
	Florida DEA Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE)
	Georgia DEA Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE)
	Georgia Controlled Substance Prescribing Practices CME
	Guam DEA Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE)
	Hawaii DEA Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE)
	Idaho DEA Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE)
	Illinois DEA Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE)
	Illinois Safe Opioid Prescribing Practices CME
	Indiana Opioid Prescribing and Opioid Abuse CME
	Indiana DEA Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE)
	Iowa DEA Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE)
	Iowa Chronic Pain Management / Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain CME Was formerly Chronic Pain Management requirement. In June 2022, they want Opioid Prescribing, but they don't specify how many credits. Probably still 2 credits?
	Kansas DEA Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE)
	Maine Prescribing of Opioid Medication CME
	Maine DEA Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE)
	Maryland Prescribing or Dispensing of Controlled Substances CME (i.e., OCSA CE Requirement)
	Maryland DEA Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE)
	Massachusetts DEA Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE)
	Massachusetts Opioid Education/Pain Management CME May be counted as risk management credits.
	Massachusetts Risk Management CME
	Michigan Pain and Symptom Management CME
	Michigan DEA Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE)
	Minnesota DEA Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE)
	Mississippi DEA Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE)
	Mississippi Prescribing Controlled Substances CME
	Missouri DEA Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE)
	Montana DEA Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE)
	Nebraska Controlled Substances Continuing Competency CME
	Nebraska DEA Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE)
	Nevada Pain Management CME
	Nevada Misuse and Abuse of Controlled Substances; Prescribing of Opioids; or Addiction CME
	Nevada DEA Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE)
	New Hampshire DEA Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE)
	New Jersey Prescription Opioids CME
	New Jersey DEA Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE)
	New Mexico DEA Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE)
	New Mexico Pain Management CME
	New York DEA Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE)
	North Carolina Controlled Substance Prescribing CME
	North Carolina DEA Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE)
	North Dakota DEA Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE)
	Oklahoma DEA Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE)
	Oregon DEA Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE)
	Pennsylvania DEA Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE)
	Pennsylvania Pain Management / Prescribing or Dispensing of Opioids CME
	Puerto Rico DEA Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE)
	Rhode Island DEA Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE)
	South Carolina DEA Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE)
	South Carolina Safe Prescribing and Monitoring of Controlled Substances CME
	South Dakota DEA Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE)
	Tennessee DEA Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE)
	Tennessee Controlled Substance Prescribing CME
	Texas Medical Ethics / Professional Responsibility CME
	Texas Pain Management and the Prescription of Opioids These courses meet the pain management CME requirement for pain management clinics.
	Texas DEA Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE)
	U.S. Virgin Islands DEA Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE)
	Utah DEA Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE)
	Utah Controlled Substance Prescribing CME
	Vermont Prescribing of Controlled Substances CME
	Vermont DEA Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE)
	Virginia Pain Management and the Responsible Prescribing of Controlled Substances CME
	Virginia DEA Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE)
	Washington Opioid Prescribing CME
	Washington DEA Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE)
	West Virginia DEA Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE)
	West Virginia DEA Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE)
	Wisconsin DEA Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE)
	Wyoming DEA Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE)
	Wyoming Responsible Prescribing of Controlled Substances CME

View other courses meeting Special State Requirements

Introduction to Safe Prescribing of Opioids for Pain Management

Technical Requirements

This web-based activity is offered online and requires an always-on connection to the Internet (the activity cannot be downloaded). The activity works on PC or Mac computers and most tablet computers. The activity should work with the newer versions of major Internet browsers, including Edge, Chrome, Safari, and Firefox. JavaScript should be enabled in all browsers, and Popups and first party cookies need to be accepted from www.VLH.com. You should also have the latest, free Adobe Reader installed for reading documents.

For additional information, read the Technical Assistance FAQ.