Addiction is a disease of the brain and it is undertreated. Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) is gaining support and momentum at the national and state levels as a critical tool in the fight against opioid use disorder. MOUD involves the use of specific prescription medications to ease withdrawal symptoms and reduce psychological cravings in patients with opioid use disorder. When combined with counseling and other behavioral health services, MOUD has been shown to reduce illicit drug use and overdose deaths.
As of Dec. 29, 2022, no waiver of any sort is needed to prescribe buprenorphine for opioid use disorder, and there are no limits on the number of patients that can be treated. Clinicians who prescribe buprenorphine are expected to provide care that meets accepted and prevailing standards for the treatment of opioid use disorder. PAs who prescribe buprenorphine should ensure that their supervising physician holds a valid DEA registration and is familiar with prescribing buprenorphine for opioid use disorder.
The resources on this page can help you learn more about getting started.
Note: if you are looking for controlled substance CME classes, click here.
General MOUD Resources
- UNC and Wake AHEC eight hour addiction medicine CME series
- MAHEC Post X-Waiver Substance Use Disorder Training Suite
- UNC Project ECHO - education, training and peer support
- ASAM eLearning: Treatment of Opioid Use Disorder
- Provider's Clinical Support Network - education, training, clinical resources
- SAMHSA's main MAT page
- Governor’s Institute Opioid Treatment Program Medical Provider Essentials Video Series (19 video series)
- Governor’s Institute Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) (4 video series)
- NCMS Foundation's Project OBOT (increasing availability of office-based opioid addiction treatment)
Conferences
Online and In-Person MOUD training opportunities
Free
- Providers Clinical Support System - SUD 101 Core Curriculum
- Perinatal Substance Use Disorders 101: Exploring Evidence-Based Recommendations for Care (Available through 12/31/2025) (Virtual) MAHEC (2.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™)
- Perinatal Substance Use Disorders 201: Expanding Skills and Knowledge to Care for Families Affected by Substance Use Disorders (Virtual) (Available through 12/31/2025) MAHEC (1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™)
Low Cost (<$100)
- Post X-Waiver Substance Use Disorder Training Module 7: Opioid Use Disorder 201 (Virtual) (Available through 06/20/2026) MAHEC (1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™) Cost: $25
- Opioid Use and Opioid Use Disorder 2024-2026: MOUD (Medication for Opioid Use Disorder): The Evidence is Compelling! (Virtual) (Available from 11/01/2024 to 11/01/2026) Northwest AHEC (1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™) Cost: $20