Twenty-three states and D.C. have requirements, either in statute, regulation, or board guidelines, for practitioners to obtain a certain number of continuing education hours in one or more of the following: prescribing controlled substances, managing pain, and identifying substance use disorders[vi].  These education requirements vary by state.  For instance, in Connecticut, physicians must complete one hour of training in controlled substances at least once every 2 years.  In Kentucky, physicians must complete at least 4.5 hours of approved continuing education hours relating to the use of the PDMP, pain management, addiction disorders every three years. 

Emergency Physicians are on the front-lines of the opioid epidemic.  Despite the fact that millions of patients go to Emergency Departments every year for pain, Emergency Physicians prescribe less than 5% off all opioids.  Emergency Physicians were among the first to sound the alarm regarding the opioid epidemic.  We reduced our prescriptions for opioids more than any other speciality between 2007 and 2012, well before the opioid epidemic became prominent in the media and the public's conscience.

ACEP opposes opioid-related mandated CME.

State-by-State CME Requirements