Opioid Prescribing Trends for Patients with Cancer Pain - Time to Reset the Swinging Pendulum

---

ONLINE

Monday, June 16, 2025, 12:00 AM - Thursday, June 15, 2028, 11:59 PM


AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (0.75 hours), ABA MOCA Part 2 (0.75 hours), ABIM MOC Part 2 (0.75 hours), ABOHNS MOC Part II (0.75 hours), ABP MOC Part 2 (0.75 hours), ABPath MOC Part II (0.75 hours), ABS CC (0.75 hours), ABS CC SAM (0.75 hours), ANCC - Nursing Contact Hour(s) (0.75 hours), Medical Ethics/Professional Responsibility (0.75 hours), Non-Physician Attendance (0.75 hours), Pain and Opioid (0.75 hours), Pharmacotherapeutics (0.75 hours), SW - Social Work (0.75 hours)

This on-demand activity explores the evolution of opioid prescribing practices for patients with cancer-related pain, emphasizing the impact of national guidelines and prescribing trends over time. Participants will review historical and current pain management guidelines, including the CDC’s 2016 and 2022 recommendations and ASCO’s 2023 updates, with specific attention to their relevance and limitations in oncology and palliative care. Through analysis of prescribing patterns, learners will gain insight into the shifting landscape of opioid use, barriers to effective pain control, and evidence-based strategies for safe, individualized pain management. Special emphasis will be placed on addressing disparities, mitigating stigma, and supporting high-risk populations through comprehensive, multidisciplinary approaches.

1. Describe historical and current pain management guidelines.
2. Review national and institutional data showing declines and disparities in opioid prescribing.
3. Identify challenges and barriers to opioid prescriptions for cancer pain. 
4. Recommend safe and appropriate pain management strategies.

In support of improving patient care, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

Credit Designation:
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center designates this enduring material for a maximum of 0.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center designates this enduring material for a maximum of 0.75 credit(s) of education in medical ethics and/or professional responsibility.

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center designates this live activity will award 0.75 Nursing Contact Hour(s) which includes APRN 0.75 Pharmacotherapeutics credit(s).

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center designates this enduring material for a maximum of 0.75 credit(s) of education in pain management and the prescription of opioids.

The University of Texas MD Anderson (CEU Provider #4607) is an approved continuing education provider for Social Workers through the Texas State Board of Social Worker Examiners. This activity has been approved for continuing education units.

Maintenance of Certification (MOC):

American Board of Anesthesiology 
This activity contributes to the CME component of the American Board of Anesthesiology’s redesigned Maintenance of Certification in Anesthesiology^TM (MOCA®) program, known as MOCA 2.0®. Please consult the ABA website, www.theABA.org, for a list of all MOCA 2.0 requirements. Participant completion data will be shared with and transmitted to the ACCME on the participant’s behalf. 

American Board of Internal Medicine
Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to 0.75 MOC points in the American Board of Internal Medicine’s (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM MOC credit.

American Board of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery
Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn their required annual part II self-assessment credit in the American Board of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery’s Continuing Certification program (formerly known as MOC). It is the CME activity provider's responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of recognizing participation.

American Board of Pathology
This activity has been registered to offer credit in the American Board of Pathology’s Continuing Certification program. Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to 0.75 Lifelong Learning credits. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABPath MOC credit.

American Board of Pediatrics 
Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the learner to earn up to 0.75 MOC points in the American Board of Pediatrics’ (ABP) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit learner completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABP MOC credit.

American Board of Surgery 
Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the learner to earn credit toward the CME and Self-Assessment requirements of the American Board of Surgery’s Continuous Certification program. It is the CME activity provider's responsibility to submit learner completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABS credit.

The Professional Education Committee would like to acknowledge support from the Activity Directors and Planning Committee Members of the 7th Interdisciplinary Pain and Opioid Crisis Seminar in making this content available online.

View the accessibility policy for The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center.

 

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center complies with all requirements of the identified accrediting body  (ACCME, ANCC, ACPE). Disclosure of speakers, faculty members, planning committee members and their commercial relationships will be shared with learners prior to the educational activity.

Mitigation of Relevant Financial Relationships

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center adheres to the ACCME's Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CE activity, including faculty, planners, reviewers or others are required to disclose all financial relationships with ineligible companies (commercial interests). All relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity.