• The fundamental concepts of pain management, including definitions and mechanisms of pain.

• How to assess patients in pain, while identifying risk factors for abuse and addiction. 

• The range of therapeutic options for managing pain, including non-pharmacologic approaches and pharmacologic (non-opioid and opioid analgesics) therapies.

• How to integrate opioid analgesics into a pain treatment plan individualized to the needs of the patient.

• How to safely and effectively manage patients on opioid analgesics in acute and chronic pain settings, including initiating therapy, titrating, and discontinuing use of opioid analgesics.

• How to counsel patients and caregivers about the safe use of opioid analgesics, including proper storage and disposal.

• How to counsel patients and caregivers about the use of naloxone for opioid overdose.

• When referral to a pain specialist is appropriate.

The Pain Management and Opioids modules within NEJM Knowledge+ Internal Medicine Board Review and Family Medicine Board Review are offered in partnership with Boston University School of Medicine's Safer/Competent Opioid Prescribing Education (SCOPE of Pain) program. Thanks to an unrestricted educational grant as part of the FDA's mandated Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) program, NEJM Knowledge+ is able to make this new CME Module available for free.