Education
Presented by Richard D. Shih, MD To earn ACCME or ACPE credit, go online to scientiacme.org/cmecoursecontent.php?ID=301 to view the slides and complete the post-test. In this online CME self-learning program: Opioid use disorder (OUD) affects millions of individuals globally and is best defined by the Diagnostic and Statistic Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) as a condition due to tolerance, manifestation of physical dependence, and loss of control leading to health hazards.The scale of the problem is staggering, and while the causes are manifold, it is fueled in part by widespread availability: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that the distribution of prescription opioid analgesics rose over fivefold between 1997 and 2007 and that there are enough opioid equivalents presently to allow for every American to take five milligrams of hydrocodone six times a day for three weeks straight. This program is supported by an educational grant from Alkermes. Faculty Disclosure: Dr. Shih has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.