Opioid use in older adults is a significant problem, with an estimated 1 million seniors having opioid use disorder. Age-related changes increase the risk of complications like respiratory depression, falls, Cardiac conduction impairment and cognitive impairment. Effective management involves careful patient selection, low-dose prescribing, regular monitoring, multimodal pain management, and addressing specific side effects like constipation. Alternative therapies and, when needed, treatment for...

This session explores the complex effects of morphine on the brain and body. Following an introduction to the therapeutic and adverse effects of morphine, including its role in pain management and risks associated with its use, the mechanisms behind tolerance, dependence, and opioid-induced hyperalgesia will be examined to reveal how prolonged use alters brain chemistry. Learners will be able to recognize the key signs of opioid overdose and understand the appropriate use of antidotal therapy fo...

This session examines one of the most widely recognized opioids: morphine. Specifically, this talk will review the origins and historical significance of morphine and opium, providing a context for their use in medicine. Attendees will gain insight into the pharmacokinetics of morphine and related opioids and learn how these properties influence its clinical applications. The intricate mechanisms by which morphine interacts with opioid receptor subtypes and how these mechanisms culminate in morp...

With advancing technology, a greater understanding of how pain and the brain interact, and a need for access to effective treatment, the landscape of behavioral medicine is changing, and you need to know about it! In addition to learning the innovative ways Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is being delivered in the modern world, this recorded presentation explores other treatments that reflect the latest understanding of pain including strategies for re-wiring the neuromuscular system to improve pai...

Recorded SessionBuprenorphine is a safe and effective medication for treatment of both opioid use disorder and chronic pain. We will consider its history, FDA - approved products, and some principles for clinical use.  Mark Murphy, MD, is a clinical assistant professor at the University of Washington Department of Family Medicine and board-certified in addiction medicine. He received his medical degree from Creighton University School of Medicine and has been in practice for more than ...

This recording, presented by Dr. Sheila Rauch from Emory University School of Medicine, will focus on describing how these issues present together and how they may impact treatment and long-term outcomes. Finally, we will describe promising new directions in intervention that are being examined. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and chronic pain are highly co-morbid with estimates suggesting that roughly 20% of those with one of these conditions may also have the other (Siqveland et al., 201...

This interactive case-based module is appropriate for clinicians who care for patients who are prescribed opioids or who need to meet training requirements (this module meets 1.5 of 8 hours). Developed by an interprofessional team of expert faculty at Washington State University, the case module presents a patient who has been prescribed opioids after a traumatic injury, and who also happens to be a healthcare professional. The case reviews challenges related to opioid prescribing, pain manageme...