Controlled Substances and Substance Abuse: Best Practices for the Healthcare Professional - 2 AOA Category 1-A Credits

Provided by an AOA-accredited Category 1 CME sponsor, this activity is eligible for AOA Category 1-A credit and includes instructor interaction; questions submitted by email will receive a response within 48 hours. Prescribing controlled substances remains one of the highest-risk areas of clinical practice, with real consequences for patient safety, regulatory compliance, and professional liability. This course provides osteopathic physicians with a practical, clinically focused review of federally regulated controlled substances, including stimulants, opioids, sedatives, and tranquilizers, so you can prescribe with greater confidence and consistency. Participants will strengthen their ability to recognize misuse risk, apply safer prescribing strategies, and identify early warning signs of diversion or substance use disorder. The activity also emphasizes documentation and decision-making practices that support appropriate therapeutic use while reducing preventable harm. Designed for real-world patient encounters, this training equips clinicians to balance symptom relief with risk reduction, protect patients, and support responsible controlled substance management in everyday care.

The abuse of controlled substances, including stimulants, opioids, sedatives, and tranquilizers, presents a significant public health challenge nationwide. This educational program delves deeply into the array of medications classified as controlled substances by federal regulations. Additionally, it equips healthcare professionals with vital insights into the hazards linked to prescribing such substances, along with strategies for their safe and efficient use, prescription, and the detection and prevention of substance misuse.