Advanced Buprenorphine Best Practices and Interactive Patient Case
Created December 2025 Online Course
Overview
Advanced Buprenorphine Education: Best Practices and Interactive Patient Cases is a 4-hour self-paced course that equips clinicians with the latest evidence and practical tools for optimizing buprenorphine treatment in opioid use disorder (OUD). Through engaging, interactive modules and realistic patient cases, learners will deepen their understanding of best practices for initiation, stabilization, and maintenance in the era of high-potency synthetic opioids. Participants will apply decision-making frameworks to manage precipitated withdrawal, individualize dosing, and select between extended-release and sublingual formulations. By integrating these approaches across diverse patient scenarios, clinicians will strengthen their competence and confidence in delivering evidence-based, patient-centered OUD care.
The target audience for this advanced level course include: physicians, nurse practitioners/nurses, physician assistants, pharmacists, counselors, and other clinicians. Clinicians who see patients with addiction in primary care, emergency/urgent care, treatment center, or general psychiatry settings.
The ACGME competencies include: Patient Care and Procedural Skills, Medical Knowledge, Practice-based Learning and Improvement, and Systems-based Practice.
Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this educational activity, participants should be able to:
Explain the pharmacologic principles and clinical implications of buprenorphine and other opioids relevant to opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment.
Analyze patient presentations to determine appropriate initiation strategies (traditional, low-dose, or high-dose) based on individual context.
Apply strategies to minimize patient discomfort and prevent or manage precipitated withdrawal during buprenorphine initiation.
Evaluate dosing approaches during stabilization and long-term maintenance to optimize outcomes and minimize the risk of return to use.
Differentiate the indications, benefits, and limitations of extended-release versus sublingual buprenorphine formulations.
Integrate patient-centered approaches to tailor treatment plans for complex clinical scenarios, such as fentanyl exposure, co-occurring pain, and prior treatment failures.
DEA Education Requirement
As an accredited organization named in Section 1263 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, ASAM certifies that the completion of this course counts toward meeting the DEA requirement for 8 hours of education on substance use disorder(s).
Registration Rates
ASAM Learner Type
Rate
ASAM Member
$99
Non-Member
$139
Associate Member
$69
Resident Member*
$69
Student Member*
$69
*Residents, Fellows-in-training, Interns, and Students must join ASAM to receive a discounted registration rate.Click here to become an ASAM member. National and Chapter membership dues apply. There is no charge for Students to become a Member, but verification of student status is required.
Membership Question? Call ASAM at 1.301.656.3920, email us, or view the ASAM website for more information.
Refunds & Cancellations
All ASAM eLearning Center refund requests must be made in writing to Education@ASAM.org within 90 days of purchase. Those requesting refunds for courses that are in progress will receive partial refunds or eLearning Center credit.
Automatic full refunds will be made for any course with a live-course component that has been cancelled.
Registration Deadline: 12/01/2028
Close Access Date: 12/10/2028
Acknowledgement
This activity was initially developed in 2023 with support from an unrestricted educational grant from Indivior. No input or influence from Indivior was included in the development of the original educational content per ACCME Standards for Integrity and Independence for Accredited Continuing Education. ASAM faculty have reviewed the content and made minimal updates where needed to ensure the content is reflective of any new evidence that has emerged since the course was initially developed.
Course Instructions
Click on the Contents tab to begin this activity. Complete all modules.
Click Complete Post Test to answer multiple choice questions. Participants will have 3 attempts to pass and must answer 17 out of 22 questions correctly.
Click Complete Evaluation to provide valuable activity feedback. Scroll down on all questions as there may be answer options that expand past the size of the window.
Click the button Claim Medical Credits in the box titled Claim Credits & Certificate. Choose the type of credit and click submit. Click the button View/Print Certificate to save or print your certificate. You can view/print your certificate at any time by visiting the ASAM eLearning Center, clicking Dashboard, and clicking Transcript/Achievements.
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Melissa B. Weimer
DO, MCR, FASAM
Melissa Weimer is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Addiction Medicine. She is an Associate Professor of Medicine and Public Health and Associate Program Director of the Addiction Medicine Fellowship at Yale University. She is an expert in hospital-based care for patients with substance use disorders and has worked with colleagues to develop successful hospital-based Addiction Medicine Consult Services at both Oregon Health & Science University and Yale University/Yale New Haven Hospital. Dr. Weimer is also a national leader in Addiction Medicine education and has developed curricula for substance use disorder evaluation and treatment and safe and effective pain treatment. Dr. Weimer serves on the national board of ASAM and is the Chair of the ASAM Clinical Practice Guidelines Methodology and Oversight Committee.
No relevant financial disclosures.
Stephen Holt
MD, MS, FACP, FASAM
Dr. Holt has been an attending physician at Yale-New Haven Hospital since 2008 and is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Yale School of Medicine. He is the Director of the Yale Addiction Recovery Clinic and the Associate Program Director for Yale's Primary Care Internal Medicine Residency Program. He is board-certified in Addiction Medicine and Internal Medicine. He has published and lectures frequently on a variety of addiction medicine topics, and has won numerous teaching awards at the local, regional, and national level.
No relevant financial disclosures.
Susan L. Calcaterra
MD, MPH, MS
University of Colorado School of Medicine
Dr. Susan Calcaterra is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Addiction Medicine and is an Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. At the University of Colorado Hospital, she serves as the Medical Director of the Addiction Consultation Service and Associate Program Director of the Addiction Medicine Fellowship Program. Dr. Calcaterra's research on innovative methods to expand addiction treatment to hospitalized patients is funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH)/National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Clinically, she practices hospital medicine and addiction medicine in the hospital setting.
No relevant financial disclosures.
Tiffany Lu, MD, MS, FASAM
Associate Professor of Medicine and Psychiatry
New York City Health & Hospitals - Jacobi / Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Dr. Tiffany Lu is the Associate Medical Director of Addiction Services at New York City Health & Hospitals/Jacobi, where she oversees the addiction consult service and outpatient addiction clinic, with an integrated opioid treatment program underway. Prior to joining Jacobi, Dr Lu was the Medical Director of Montefiore Medical Center's Buprenorphine Treatment Network and PI/PD of federal and municipal grant-funded initiatives to expand addiction care and education in general medical settings.
Dr. Lu is currently Associate Professor of Medicine and Psychiatry at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine as well as Education Chair and President-Elect for the NY Chapter of American Society of Addiction Medicine. She also serves on the Quality Improvement Council for ASAM. Dr. Lu graduated from UCSF School of Medicine, completed her Internal Medicine Residency at Massachusetts General Hospital, and holds a Master of Science in Clinical Research Methods from Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
In support of improving patient care, the American Society of Addiction Medicine 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.
Credits Available
Physicians: 4 Credits
Nurses & NPs: 4 Nursing Contact Hours
Pharmacology Hours: 2 Hours
PAs: 4 Credits
Pharmacists: 4 Credits
Social Workers: 4 Credits
Interprofessional Continuing Education: 4 Credits
Certified Counselors: 4 NBCC Contact Hours
American Society of Addiction Medicine has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7062. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. American Society of Addiction Medicine is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs.
NAADAC: 4 CE Credits
Maintenance of Certification (MOC)/Continuing Certification Program (CCP)
This activity is designed to meet the requirements for MOC/CCP for several primary physician boards and for state licensing CME requirements. MOC Credit is only reported and designated for ABA, ABP, ABIM, and ABS. By completing the online credit application and evaluation, the learner permits ASAM to report credits to the appropriate Board. Learn more.
ABIM MOC Points: 4 Medical Knowledge | 4 Patient Safety
ABA MOCA 2.0®*: 4 Lifelong Learning | 4 Patient Safety MOCA 2.0® is a trademark of the American board of Anesthesiology®. This activity contributes to the CME requirement for Part II: Lifelong Learning and Self-Assessment of the American board of Anesthesiology's (ABA) redesigned Maintenance of Certification in Anesthesiology Program® (MOCA®), known as MOCA 2.0®. Please consult the ABA website, https://www.theaba.org/, for a list of all MOCA 2.0 requirements.
Additionally, this activity has been designed to satisfy the requirements of the following primary physician board certification requirements. Please confirm with your individual Board.
American Board of Addiction Medicine (ABAM)
American Board of Preventative Medicine (ABPM)
American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN)
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC)
Certificates for other professions
All participants may request a certificate of participation upon completion of the activity and an online evaluation confirming their participation. Learners are strongly advised to contact their professional licensing board or professional association to confirm this certificate will be accepted as evidence supporting continuing education requirements.
California Association for Drug/Alcohol Educators (CAADE)
This educational program is approved by CAADE: #CP40 999 1225.
California Association of DUI Treatment Centers (CADTP)
This educational program is approved by CADTP: #205.
California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals (CCAPP)
This educational program is approved by CCAPP: #OS-20-330-0227.
Disclosure Information
In accordance with the disclosure policies of ASAM and Joint Accreditation, the effort is made to ensure balance, independence, objectivity, and scientific rigor in all accredited continuing education activities. These policies include identifying and mitigating all relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies for those involved in the creation and dissemination of accredited continuing education. Speaker disclosures are listed on the speakers tab.
The complete list of disclosures and designation statements are linked below.
Begin self-paced component package.
This part of the activity will take 4 hours to complete. This activity was last reviewed and updated in December 2025.
Up to 4.00 medical credits available | Certificate available
Up to 4.00 medical credits available | Certificate available
Participants should claim only the credits commensurate with the extent of their participation in this activity.
Enter Pharmacist CPE Monitor Information (Required for Pharmacists)
2 Questions
2 Questions
Pharmacists and Pharmacist Technicians are required to enter their CPE Monitor reporting information. All other health professionals, including physicians, social workers, nurses, etc., should skip this step.
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