On June 11, 2025, CareerSmart Learning hosted a well-attended and thought-provoking free webinar titled “Reframing the Pain Conversation: Debunking Myths in Opioid and Chronic Pain Management.” This one-hour session was approved for nurses and case managers seeking continuing education and a deeper understanding of chronic pain management.
These free webinars are just one of the many ways we support healthcare organizations in advancing staff development. If you’re seeking a trusted education partner to provide accredited continuing education (CE) content at scale, we invite you to explore our Professional Partnerships program.
Whether you’re managing a small team or an entire healthcare system, our solutions are tailored to meet organizational goals while improving patient outcomes.
Attendee Q & A: (Answers provided by speaker Angie Jung, BSN, RN, CRRN, CCM, Co-Founder, Chief Education Liaison & Nurse Planner, CareerSmart Learning, President CMSA-SCC)
Q: Has Fentanyl changed composition over the years— used this routinely 30+ years ago in ICU, sedation in GI lab, etc. with absolutely no issues. It actually was liquid and even on patches.
A: Fentanyl is one of the Schedule II drugs intended for clinical use in severe acute or chronic pain, breakthrough pain, and as an adjunct to anesthesia during surgeries. It is a highly effective substance and not a “bad” drug when used as prescribed. Because fentanyl can be administered through various routes and has a rapid onset with potent effects, close monitoring by a physician is crucial. The FDA-approved pharmaceutical fentanyl has a defined composition; however, the composition of illicit fentanyl has changed due to illegal manufacturing, affecting its molecule, structure, and potency, which poses a serious risk for those obtaining this substance unlawfully or unknowingly.
https://www.lanl.gov/media/publications/1663/1224-fighting-fentanyl-overdose
Q: With pain being so complicated and more research being done all of the time, where do you think the next frontier is in terms of pain management? What are some things we got wrong, and some we got right?
A: This is an excellent and nuanced question.
Let’s start by examining some of the mistakes we’ve made.
- The overprescription of opioids and insufficient emphasis on monitoring, patient education, and provider training regarding opioid use.
- The neglect of the individual’s biopsychosocial framework, which contributes to stigma, bias, and health disparities in pain management.
Some of what we’ve done right and must continue to improve includes
- Recognizing that chronic pain is a disease, and the manifestation of pain differs from person to person.
- Increasing focus on various interventional pain management strategies and opioid stewardship programs.
- Movement toward a person-centered care approach with an emphasis on shared decision-making, cultural humility, compassionate communication, and ongoing professional and public education.
Q: How can we be sure if reported pain is pain and not addiction drug seeking? What are the most appropriate steps to take if you suspect opioid abuse?
A: This is not always easy, as pain is a complex phenomenon. As healthcare professionals, we navigate a delicate balance between our legal and ethical responsibilities to ensure patient safety while providing compassionate care. Recall that pain is a subjective experience influenced by biological, psychological, cultural, and social factors, and is not always visible—much like potential “drug seeking” behaviors. The myths we have discussed in our session demonstrate how our assumptions can easily lead to patient harm, stigma, and inadequate care. An individual may experience real pain alongside a substance use disorder. It is essential that when we suspect opioid overuse, we initiate an open, non-judgmental, and non-shaming conversation with our client, consult with a medical professional (sometimes, this may involve seeking a second opinion from a pain management specialist or other experts regarding possible concurrent conditions contributing to pain symptoms), and/or validate our concerns with evidence-based comprehensive assessments such as toxicology screening and the use of tools like the Opioid Risk Tool or Brief Pain Inventory.
Q: Is the new 8-hour opioid and substance use disorder (OUD/SUD) training required in all states for MDs?
Yes, this applies in every state. The 8-hour mandatory CME training on OUD (Opioid Use Disorder) and SUD (Substance Use Disorder) is a federal requirement. This is a one-time requirement for all Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) registered practitioners, including physicians, either as a prerequisite or their next renewal of their DEA registrations. To clarify, not all physicians in the U.S. need to have DEA registration, but anyone who prescribes, administers, or dispenses controlled substances must register with the DEA. For more information about this training, please see the attached PDF.
https://deadiversion.usdoj.gov/pubs/docs/MATE_Training_Letter_Final.pdf
Partner with Us to Educate and Empower Your Staff
Thank you to everyone who joined us live and contributed thoughtful questions. Your engagement underscores the importance of ongoing dialogue and evidence-based education in today’s healthcare landscape.
If your organization is looking for a reliable CE provider, consider partnering with CareerSmart Learning. Our Professional Partnerships make it easy to bring high-quality, accredited training to your team—whether through webinars like this one or through full access to our LMS and course catalog.
Learn more about our Professional Partnerships and how we can support your facility’s education goals.
Explore These Related CE Courses:
Looking to deepen your knowledge on opioid use and substance-related disorders? Check out these accredited, self-paced CEU courses designed for nurses, case managers, social workers, and rehabilitation professionals:
👉 Opioid Crisis Management – 3.0 CE Contact Hours
Gain practical strategies for addressing opioid misuse, managing chronic pain, and improving patient safety outcomes.
👉 Substance Use Disorder – 2.5 CE Contact Hours
Understand the complexities of substance use disorders and how to deliver compassionate, evidence-based care across settings.
👉 Pain Measurement: An Essential Routine Assessment – 2.5 CE Contact Hours
Strengthen your skills in evaluating and documenting pain to support better care planning and clinical outcomes.
✅ Both courses are approved for Nurses, CCMs, CRCs, NASW, and Workers’ Comp professionals in California.
