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Speaker: Dr. Davis C. Thomas
Rutgers School of Dental Medicine

Abstract: 

This two-day course (2 hours each) is structured to credit towards the new DEA requirement for any practitioner with a DEA license or new applicants for the same. The objective for this new DEA requirement, as per the DEA website, is to “promote understanding of SUDs as well as their identification, treatment and management”. 

Topics to be covered include, but not limited to:

1. Neuroanatomy and Neurophysiology of Pain, Substance abuse and addiction: Pain pathways, Pain mechanisms; neurons; receptors; types of pain
2. Substance abuse and addiction: Terminology, definitions; prevalence and incidence; drugs of abuse and addiction; identifying the risk factors; who is prone?
3. Principles of sound Pain management: Safe pharmacological management of dental pain; acute and chronic pain
4. Neurophysiology and pharmacology of substance abuse and addiction: Neurotransmitters; reward pathways; brain centers of substance use and addiction
5. Substance abuse and mental health.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Understand the basics of pain physiology, mechanisms, and principles of sound pain management
2. Learn to identify patients with the potential for substance use disorders and prevention of SUD
3. Understand the basics of pharmacology of the treatment of SUDs
4. Know the fundamentals of de-addiction and rehabilitation

Tuition: $69/2 ADA CERP credit hours

Course Prerequisites: None required 
Course Format: Virtual Lecture
Conflict of Interest: None reported by speaker
Contact: Caitlin Laughlin at caitlin_laughlin@hsdm.harvard.edu
Cancellation Policy: Cancellation 7 days before the course will be eligible for full refund. No refund will be made within 7 days of the course initiation date.