Opioid Use Disorder (OUD), a chronic relapsing brain disease, impacts more than 2 million people in the United States. From 1999 to 2017, more than 702,000 people have died from a drug overdose. In 2017, more than 70,000 people died from drug overdoses, making it a leading cause of injury-related death in the United States. Of those deaths, almost 68% involved a prescription or illicit opioid.

Access to treatment for OUD is critical to fighting the epidemic that plagues our country. According to the American Academy of Medical Colleges (AAMC), of the 21.2 million Americans that have a substance use disorder only 11% of those patients received treatment in 2018.2 Treating OUD can be difficult, yet Medication for Opioid Use Disorders (MOUD) also known as Medication-Assisted Recovery (MAR) normalizes brain function and enables people to return to their regular lives. Expanding access to this life-saving treatment requires that prescribers acquire a DEA X Waiver through a specialized training.o To address this, PCSS, in coordination with NC Governor's Institute, created a medical student version of the MAT waiver course that all schools can use at no cost. 

This course consists of seven video modules and five webinars. For medical students, you will receive a certification of completion following your completion of the online 8 hour MAT waiver course. This certificate will serve as documentation that you have met the 8 hour training requirement to be eligible to apply to SAMHSA for your DEA X number once you have obtained your own DEA license. 

• Review the identification of opioid use disorder (OUD) and evidence-based treatments.  

• Discuss the pharmacology of opioids as it relates to treatment of OUD patients. 

 • Describe the fundamentals of office-based opioid treatment including the treatment of the co-morbid patient. 

 • Explain the process of buprenorphine induction as well as stabilization and maintenance. 

 • Discuss other approved antagonist and agonist medications to treat OUD. 

 • Utilize evidence-based resources to ensure providers have the confidence to prescribe buprenorphine for patients with OUD.  

 • Review the appropriate treatment of pain in the OUD patient. 

 • Recognize the importance of obtaining appropriate licensing for treating patients with OUD.