Responsibilities and Requirements of Prescribing Schedule II Opioid Drugs

The purpose of this course is to provide dental professionals who prescribe or distribute opioids with an appreciation for the complexities of opioid prescribing and the dual risks of litigation due to inadequate pain control and drug diversion or misuse in order to provide the best possible patient care and to prevent a growing social problem. In addition, members of the public may use this course to enhance their personal knowledge of the subject matter presented.


Upon completion of this course, you should be able to:


1. Apply epidemiologic trends in opioid use and misuse to current practice so at-risk patient populations can be more easily identified, assessed, and treated.

2. Outline practices for pain management in dentistry.

3. Evaluate behaviors that may indicate drug seeking or diverting as well as approaches for patients suspected of misusing opioids.

4. Discuss the regulatory requirements for prescribers and dispensers.

5. Describe the dental office procedures for managing vulnerable or substance use disorder patients.


This 2-hour continuing education course is available for download for professional development; if continuing education credit is desired, please see instructions included in eBook.