ORN Fall 2025 - Examining the Severity and Progression of Illicitly Manufactured Fentanyl Withdrawal: A Quasi-experimental Comparison
Description:

Illicitly manufactured fentanyl has largely replaced heroin throughout the United States. Characteristics of fentanyl-specific withdrawal are not well understood compared to traditional opioid withdrawal. This study examines opioid withdrawal severity among two cohorts of study participants who underwent identical morphine stabilization procedures before and after illicitly manufactured fentanyl was introduced to the local drug market.

Learning objectives:
At the conclusion of this seminar, attendees should be able to:
  • Evaluate the comparative self-reported and observed opioid withdrawal scores between two study groups over an identical seven-day stabilization period.
  • Describe specific symptoms between these study groups, including severity and duration of individual symptoms, both self-reported and observed.
  • Determine implications for opioid withdrawal management given the extent and reach of illicitly manufactured fentanyl.
CME

Continuing Medical Education (CME) Credits Available

Participants in this program may earn the following CME credits:

1 AOA Category 1-A Credit
1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
1 AAPA Category 1 CME Credit 
1 Nurses CNE Credit

Earn valuable continuing education credits while enhancing your professional knowledge!

Instructions and Claiming CME
Need help claiming your CME certificate? Download the instructions here.
Note:  Video content must be watched in its entirety and surveys must be complete to claim CME certificates. The survey opens in a new browser tab. You must complete the survey and return to the original browser tab, answer the attestation question, then claim your CME.
What is ORN
  • Help is here! The Opioid Response Network (ORN) is your resource for no-cost education, training and consultation to enhance efforts addressing opioid and stimulant use disorders.
  • ORN has consultants in every state and territory to deploy across prevention, treatment, recovery and harm reduction.
  • Share your needs via the “Submit a Request” form at www.OpioidResponseNetwork.org. Within one business day, your regional point person will be in touch to learn more.
Speaker:
Anjalee Sharma, PHD

Dr. Anjalee Sharma is an Assistant Research Scientist at Friends Research Institute in Baltimore, Maryland. Dr. Sharma received her Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Social Work, and completed a postdoc with the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Behavioral Pharmacology Research Unit. Her current research interests lie at the intersection of substance use disorders (SUDs), criminal justice involvement, continuity of care, harm reduction, and health equity. Much of Dr. Sharma's research takes place with underserved, racial/ethnic minority, and low-income individuals at the community level. Therefore, community engagement has been crucial to the success of her work; including the ability to liaise with community leaders and members to facilitate trust and insurance to address community’s needs. Some of Dr. Sharma's current/recent projects include developing a harm reduction comic book to convey information about the drug supply and how to identify/reverse an opioid overdose; understanding and improving treatment linkage to buprenorphine treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD) from novel settings; and investigating if a mobile app to receive contingency management can help people receiving methadone for OUD decrease their cocaine co-use. Dr. Sharma is happy to take any questions or further correspondence at asharma@friendsresearch.org. The harm reduction comic can be found at https://friendsresearch.org/bmoresafe/.
   
DISCLAIMER
ACCREDITATION: 
In support of improving patient care, American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry 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.

DISCLOSURE AND CONFLICT OF INTEREST RESOLUTION:
All conflicts of interest of any individual(s) in a position to control the content of this CME activity will be identified and resolved prior to this educational activity being provided. Disclosure about provider and faculty relationships, or the lack thereof, will be provided to learners.
Funding:
Funding for this initiative was made possible (in part) by grant no. 1H79TI088037 from SAMHSA. The views expressed in written conference materials or publications and by speakers and moderators do not necessarily reflect the official policies of the Department of Health and Human Services; nor does mention of trade names, commercial practices, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.
Summary
Availability:
Registration Required
Access expires on Oct 01, 2028
Location:
Online Meeting
Date / Time:
Nov 05, 2025 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM ET
Cost:
FREE
Credit Offered:
1 AAPA Category 1 CME Credit
1 AMA PRA Cat 1 Credit
1 Nurses CNE Credit
1 AOA Category 1A Credit
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