ORN Fall 2022 #4 - Case Studies and Q/A - Managing Opioid Complexity in Individuals with Serious Illness-Recording - #4 - Case Studies and Q/A - Managing Opioid Complexity in Individuals with Serious Illness

Recording - #4 - Case Studies and Q/A - Managing Opioid Complexity in Individuals with Serious Illness

Video Transcription

Video Summary

Dr. Jessica Merlin discusses managing opioid complexity in adults with serious illness in a webinar series on hot topics in the treatment of opioid use disorder and stimulant use disorders. She is an associate professor at the University of Pittsburgh and director of the PIT's Challenges in Managing and Preventing Pain Clinical Research Center. Dr. Merlin's research focuses on the intersection of chronic pain and opioid use disorder, particularly in individuals with serious illnesses like advanced cancer. She discusses the use of buprenorphine as a treatment for opioid use disorder and the challenges of tapering patients from opioids. She emphasizes the need for psychosocial support and frequent check-ins during the tapering process. Dr. Merlin also addresses the overlap between chronic pain and substance use disorder and suggests using non-opioid treatments such as physical therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy for pain. She encourages clinicians to consider prescribing buprenorphine and gaining the necessary waivers to treat patients with opioid use disorder. Dr. Merlin concludes by highlighting the importance of interdisciplinary care and the need for more clinicians to gain skills in treating both serious illness and opioid use disorder. The webinar includes a discussion of specific case scenarios and practical recommendations for managing pain and opioid use disorder in these populations.

Keywords

opioid complexity

serious illness

buprenorphine

tapering

psychosocial support

chronic pain

substance use disorder

non-opioid treatments

interdisciplinary care