On July 9, 2012, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a risk evaluation and mitigation strategy (REMS) for extended-release (ER) and long-acting (LA) opioid products. The goal of the REMS is to reduce serious adverse outcomes resulting from inappropriate prescribing, misuse, and abuse of ER/LA opioid analgesics while maintaining patient access to these pain medications. Adverse outcomes of concern include addiction, unintentional overdose and death.

To ensure that the benefits of ER/LA opioid analgesics outweigh the risks, the FDA has required ER/LA opioid analgesics manufacturers, known as the REMS Program Companies (RPC), to provide education for prescribers of these medications. RPC-supported REMS education will be provided through accredited continuing education (CE) activities supported by independent educational grants from these ER/LA opioid analgesic companies.

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The AOA wants to ensure that Category 1 CME sponsors are aware of the most up-to-date information regarding ER/LA REMS.

• AOA affiliates can apply for a block grant to present live Category 1-A CME developed by the Collaborative for REMS Education (CO*RE). Learn more.

• For information regarding ER/LA REMS or RPC grants available for funding ER/LA REMS activities, visit the ER/LA Opioid Analgesic REMS website.

• Accredited CE providers developing CE activities around these medications may wish to download the FDA Blueprint for Prescriber Education of ER/LA Opioid Analgesics.