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Refills, Red Flags, and Real Talk: Opioid Analgesic Therapy With Compassion and Clarity

Slideset

This Opioid REMS curriculum provides comprehensive, practical education on the safe and appropriate use of opioid analgesics, with a focus on balancing effective pain management with risk mitigation. These downloadable slides address pain assessment and multimodal treatment, opioid prescribing and monitoring, naloxone and overdose prevention, opioid tapering, and the identification and treatment of opioid use disorder.

Released: October 13, 2026

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Faculty

Samantha M. Cantanzano

Samantha M. Cantanzano, PharmD, BCPP

Clinical Associate Professor
Division of Pharmacy Practice
The University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy
Austin, Texas
Theresa Mallick-Searle

Theresa Mallick-Searle, MS, PMGT-BC, ANP-BC, FAANP

Adult Nurse Practitioner, Pain Management and Anesthesia
Stanford Health Care
Redwood City, California
Michael Sprintz

Michael Sprintz, DO, DFASAM

Medical Director, Substance Abuse and Mental Health IOP Programs
The Lovett Behavioral Health Group
Houston, Texas
Dace Svikis

Dace Svikis, PhD

Professor
Department of Psychology
Deputy Director
Institute for Women’s Health
Virginia Commonwealth University
Richmond, Virginia
Amanda Zimmerman

Amanda Zimmerman, PA-C

West Forsyth Pain Management
Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Provided by

Provided by Clinical Care Options, LLC dba Decera Clinical Education.

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Supporters

This activity is supported by an independent educational grant from the Opioid Analgesic REMS Program Companies.

Please see https://www.opioidanalgesicrems.com/Resources/Docs/List_of_RPC_Companies.pdf for a listing of REMS Program Companies. This activity is intended to be fully compliant with the Opioid Analgesic REMS education requirements issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

Opioid Analgesic REMS Program Companies

Target Audience

This program is intended for interprofessional and multidisciplinary healthcare teams, including physicians, advanced practice nurses, physician associates, pharmacists, and nurses. Specialty areas include but are not limited to psychiatry, neurology, family medicine, internal medicine, pain management, physiatry, and surgery.

Learning Objectives

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

  • Apply the basic principles of pain management to differentiate types of acute and chronic pain and integrate biopsychosocial factors that influence treatment selection

  • Conduct comprehensive patient assessments that include the appropriate use of Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs), validated pain and functional assessment tools, and screening for risk factors for substance use disorders

  • Design individualized, multimodal pain management treatment plans that focus on functional improvement while considering the spectrum of treatment options, including nonpharmacologic therapies, non-opioid pharmacologic options, and opioid analgesics, when benefits outweigh risks

  • Implement safe and effective opioid prescribing practices, including appropriate treatment selection, dosing, monitoring, recognition of adverse events, identification of clinically relevant drug interactions, and medication tapering when indicated

  • Counsel patients and caregivers on the appropriate use of naloxone in opioid overdose, the risks of misuse and drug interactions, and the safe use, storage, and disposal of opioid analgesics

  • Incorporate evidence-based approaches for the identification and treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD), including the use of validated screening tools, non-stigmatizing communication, and appropriate referral or initiation of treatment

Additional Disclosures

Generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools were used for revising or refining educational content. All AI-assisted content underwent human review, editing, and validation by qualified faculty and accredited education staff to ensure scientific accuracy, balance, and compliance with the ACCME Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education.