Dental Providers’ Drug Reference for the U.S. Opioid Epidemic

Opioid abuse and deaths from overdose have reached epidemic levels in the United States. These drug classes cause significant systemic changes and carry a high risk for tolerance, dependence, and addiction. Dental providers who have the authority to prescribe opioids have a responsibility to the public to ensure appropriate pain management protocols are followed so patients do not run the risk of developing a substance abuse disorder. This course will present information and statistics about commonly misused opioids, pharmacodynamics of non-narcotic and opioid analgesics, and dental pain origin and management.