Every 7 minutes an American dies of a drug overdose, propelling healthcare providers to expand our knowledge on illicit substances. We humans have always aimed to experience the amplified effects of natural and synthetic substances that produce euphoria. The line between clinical and criminal utilization of substances if often blurred.

In our society today, we have a very “objective” classification of substances based on generally accepted medical use and a respective propensity to become habit forming. However, as one can recall with the substance of ethyl alcohol, a substance may never actually chemically change, yet can move across legal classifications of substances. How does that happen?

Join our discussion on illicit substances to learn how numerous illicit substances have similar, if not the same, mechanisms of action as legal prescription medications readily available today. The time has come to progress from “Just Say No” to “Just Say Know”!

At the conclusion of this continuing education activity, the participant will be able to:

1. Recall dozens of common substances of abuse based on pharmacological classification
2. Describe the respective pharmacology of common substances of abuse
3. Recall the DEA controlled substance classes of common substances of abuse

AchieveCE is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. AchieveCE is also accredited by the Florida Board of Pharmacy (provider no. 50-20641). This course is approved by CE Broker, with CE Broker No. 20-917835

AchieveCE is also an accredited provider by the Florida Board of Nursing (Provider #50-20641) and the California Board of Registered Nursing (CEP17265), and is an approved provider through reciprocity for the states of Arkansas, District of Columbia, Georgia, Kentucky, New Mexico, South Carolina, and West Virginia.

It is also an accredited provider by the Florida Board Of Clinical Social Work, Marriage And Family Therapy and Mental Health Counseling (Provider #50-20641) and Ohio Counselor, Social Worker and Marriage and Family Therapist Board.

Mark Garofoli, PharmD, MBA, BCGP, CPE is a Clinical Assistant Professor and Director of Experiential Learning for the West Virginia University (WVU) School of Pharmacy (SoP), a faculty member in the WVU School of Medicine Pain Fellowship Program, and a Clinical Pain Management Pharmacist at the WVU Medicine Center for Integrative Pain Management. He is board certified in Geriatric Care (BGCP) along with being a certified pain educator (CPE) and certified tobacco treatment specialist (CTTS).

This activity was developed by AchieveCE free of any commercial support. Mark Garofoli, PharmD, MBA, BCGP, CPE, faculty for this educational event, has no relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose. Jaimini Patel, RPh and Pete Kreckel, RPh, planners for this educational event, also have no relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

  Level 2. Basic Application of Skills and Concepts