Opioids for the treatment of chronic non-terminal pain are associated with increased risks for serious harms and insufficient evidence to determine long-term benefits. However, tapering or discontinuing long-term opioid therapy is not appropriate for every patient and can carry significant risks. Recent guidelines, including the CDC’s 2022 update, recognize the complexity of these cases and advocate for a patient-centered, collaborative approach to opioid management. This presentation will explore how to manage such patients using guidelines as a roadmap, challenging harmful misconceptions, integrating risk mitigation strategies, and providing life-saving treatment for patients who develop Opioid Use Disorder.

Join the Illinois State Medical Society for this webinar presented by Aaron Newcomb, DO, FAAFP, FASAM, Medical Director of the Substance Use Disorder Treatment Program at Shawnee Health Services, to learn more about the current recommendations for long-term opioid use for chronic pain.

Who can attend:

Registration is limited to ISMS members and their employed staff.

About the Presenters:

Dr. Newcomb is the Medical Director for the Substance Use Disorder Treatment Program at Shawnee Health Services in Carbondale, Illinois. He will ascend to the Presidency of the Illinois Society of Addiction Medicine in December. Dr. Newcomb holds primary board certification for Family Medicine through the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). He has also held continuous Addiction Medicine certification since 2010, initially through the American Board of Addiction Medicine and is currently subspecialty board certified through the American Board of Preventative Medicine for Addiction Medicine (ABPM).

Dr. Newcomb has provided numerous presentations on addiction, the opioid epidemic and medication-assisted recovery at various medical and community venues locally, regionally, and nationally since 2011. Dr. Newcomb is a 2025 recipient of the ISMS Physician Leader of the Year Award for his advocacy fighting the opioid epidemic.

Learning Objectives:

• Discuss the relative risks associated with long-term opioid therapy for non-terminal pain management, along with emerging evidence on the risks involved in discontinuing opioids after prolonged use.
• In light of current guidelines, explore the individualized, patient-centered, and collaborative approach to managing patients already taking opioids long-term for chronic pain.
• Recognize that neither current nor past guidelines have ever recommended the universal tapering or discontinuation of long-term opioid therapy.
• Learn to view treatment irregularities like unexpected toxicology results or aberrant prescription drug monitoring data as opportunities to reassess the treatment plan and improve safety rather than as grounds for punitive action or discharge from care.
• Recognize the robust evidence supporting medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), such as buprenorphine, and actively seek opportunities to initiate or refer patients for this evidence-based, lifesaving treatment.

Accreditation: The Illinois State Medical Society is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Credit designation: The Illinois State Medical Society designates this live activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ . Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Disclosure: None of the planners, faculty, or others in control of content have relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies to disclose.