Description
This session will provide an in depth overview of evidence based treatments for opioid use disorder (OUD), with a particular focus on medication treatments for OUD (MOUD) and their use among individuals living with serious mental illness (SMI). This talk will review the pharmacologic profiles of methadone, buprenorphine, and extended release naltrexone, emphasizing clinically relevant interactions with psychotropic medications. We will also explore how acute opioid intoxication or withdrawal can mimic or exacerbate psychotic and affective symptoms, and how this can complicate diagnostic clarity or trigger decompensation in patients with SMI. Additional topics will include coordinating care across mental health and addiction systems, managing co-occurring stimulant or benzodiazepine use, and addressing barriers such as adherence challenges unique to individuals with SMI. Participants will leave with practical guidance to improve patient engagement and deliver integrated treatment for this highly vulnerable population.
Format
Live webinar.
Learning Objectives
At the completion of the activity, participants will:
Describe the pharmacologic profiles of medications for opioid use disorder (methadone, buprenorphine, and extended release naltrexone).
Review initiation and dosing strategies for MOUD. clinical strategies to differentiate psychiatric symptoms related to opioid intoxication or withdrawal from primary psychotic or affective disorders in order to improve diagnostic accuracy and prevent decompensation.
Utilize integrated care approaches to coordinate MOUD with mental health treatment, address co-occurring substance use (including stimulants and benzodiazepines), and enhance adherence and engagement among patients with SMI.
Outline
- Treatment approaches (buprenorphine, methadone, naltrexone)
- Overdose prevention and risk factors
Target Audience
Psychiatrist, Resident or Fellow, Medical Student, Physician (Non-Psychiatric), Physician Assistant, Nurse, Nurse Practitioner, Psychiatric Technician, Pharmacist
Instructional Level
Intermediate
Estimated Time to Complete
Estimated Duration: 1 hour
Program Release Date: 04/23/2026
Program End Date: 04/23/2026
Ongoing Interdisciplinary Discussion Board
After completing the course, engage with colleagues in the mental health field through the Webinar Roundtable Topics discussion board. This is an easy way to network and share ideas with other clinicians who participate in this webinar. Access through the discussion tab.
How to Earn Credit
After completing the evaluation, participants will have the opportunity to claim their hours of participation and download the appropriate certificate. Physicians may obtain an official CME certificate, other healthcare professionals may receive a CE certificate (as applicable), and all other attendees may generate a certificate of participation. Each certificate will reflect the event date and total hours earned.
Continuing Education Credit
In support of improving patient care, American Psychiatric Association (APA) 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.
Physicians
The APA designates this live event for a maximum of 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Nurses/Nurse Practitioners
The American Psychiatric Association (APA) designates this activity for 1.00 Nursing contact hours. Nurses should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Psychiatric Technicians
The American Psychiatric Association (APA) is approved by the California Board of Vocational Nursing and Psychiatric Technicians (BVNPT) as a provider of continuing education for Licensed Psychiatric Technicians (LPTs). Provider Number: 15028
This course is approved for 1.00 of continuing education for LPTs.
Pharmacists
This curriculum has been approved for 1.00 contact hours by the American Psychiatric Association. The American Psychiatric Association is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. The Universal Activity Number for this program is JA0000145-0000-26-046-L99-P. This learning activity is knowledge based. Your CE credits will be electronically submitted to NABP upon successful completion of the activity. Pharmacists with questions can contact NABP customer service (custserv@nabp.net).
Faculty and Planner Disclosures
The American Psychiatric Association adheres to the ACCME's Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Medical Education. Any individuals in a position to control the content of a CME activity - including faculty, planners, reviewers, or others - are required to disclose all relevant financial relationships with ineligible entities (commercial interests). All relevant conflicts of interest have been mitigated prior to the commencement of the activity.
Faculty:
- Dr. Mooney is a board-certified addiction psychiatrist specializing in the treatment of co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders. She previously served as Professor and Director of the Addiction Psychiatry Division at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where she led substance use disorder treatment programs across UCLA and the Greater Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Healthcare System. In 2026, she joined the Medical University of South Carolina as a Professor and Director of the Addiction Sciences Division in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. Across her academic roles, Dr. Mooney has remained dedicated to clinical service, teaching, and research aimed at advancing effective treatment approaches for substance use disorders in diverse healthcare settings. She has conducted research at UCLA Integrated Substance Use and Addiction Programs (ISAP) focused on treatment interventions for opioid use disorder. Dr. Mooney is a Past President of the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry (AAAP), a Fellow of the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM), and a Distinguished Fellow of both the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and AAAP. Dr. Mooney has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Program Planners:
- John Torous, MD, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. Dr. Torous has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
- Kathryn Hanley, APRN, Austin State Hospital. Ms. Hanley has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
- Megan Ehret, PharmD, BCPP, University of Maryland, Baltimore. Dr. Ehret is a consultant for Saladex Biomedical LLC.
- Chares Perdue, Psych Tech Planner, California Department of State Hospitals. Mr. Perdue has no relevant financial relationships to disclose.
Accessibility for Participants with Disabilities
The American Psychiatric Association is committed to ensuring accessibility of its website to people with disabilities. If you have trouble accessing any of APA’s online resources, please contact us at 202-559-3900 for assistance.
Technical Requirements
This internet-based CME activity is best experienced using any of the following:
The latest and 2nd latest public versions of Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Safari
Internet Explorer 11+
This Web site requires JavaScript and session cookies to be enabled. Certain activities may require additional software to view multimedia, presentation, or printable versions of the content. These activities will be marked as such and will provide links to the required software. That software may be Adobe Acrobat Reader, Microsoft PowerPoint, or Windows Media Player.
Optimal System Configuration:
Browser: Google Chrome (latest and 2nd latest version), Safari (latest and 2nd latest version), Internet Explorer 11.0+, Firefox (latest and 2nd latest version), or Microsoft Edge (latest and 2nd latest version)
Operating System: Windows versions 8.1+, Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard) +, Android (latest and 2nd latest version), or iOS/iPad OS (latest and 2nd latest version)
Internet Connection: 1 Mbps or higher
Minimum Requirements:
Windows PC:
Windows 8.1 or higher; 1 GB (for 32-bit)/2 GB (for 64-bit) or higher RAM; Microsoft DirectX 9 graphics device with WDDM driver; audio playback with speakers for programs with video
For assistance: Contact educme@psych.org for questions about this activity |
Contact support@smicaladviser.org for technical assistance