The ACGME believes that physicians should have equal access to the resources and training they need to effectively treat Opioid Use Disorder (OUD), including behavioral techniques and medication-based therapy.

The need to educate physicians on the treatment of substance use disorder (SUD), for this and the next generation, is a shared responsibility of the medical school, graduate medical education (GME), and continuing medical education communities.

Effective July 1, 2019, the ACGME requires that all programs “provide instruction and experience in pain management if applicable for the specialty including recognition of the signs of addiction.” (Common Program Requirement IV.C.2.)

This requirement directs appropriate residency and fellowship programs to develop evidence-based educational interventions to effectively teach residents and fellows how to:

• Prevent substance use disorder wherever possible while effectively treating pain;
• Recognize substance use disorder in its earliest stages;
• Function effectively in systems of care for effective pain relief and substance use disorder;
• Use non-pharmacologic means wherever possible; and,
• Participate in clinical trials of new non-opioid pain relief customized to the needs of the clinical disorders of the populations they serve.

Learn more about the Common Program Requirements

On March 30-31, 2021, the ACGME hosted a virtual GME Stakeholder Congress on Preparing Residents and Fellows to Manage Pain and Substance Use Disorder. The Congress brought together experts from across the medical education spectrum with the goal of supporting programs in implementing Common Program Requirement IV.C.2. by developing considerations for general and specialty-specific elements of a foundational curriculum for the recognition and treatment of pain and substance use disorder.

• 2021 Opioid Congress Proceedings Paper
• 2021 Opioid Congress Summary of Recommendations
• 2021 Opioid Congress Resources for Preparing Residents/Fellows to Manage Pain and SUD
• Journal of Graduate Medical Education (JGME) News and Views: GME Stakeholders Congress on Preparing Residents and Fellows to Manage Pain and Substance Use Disorder
• View 2021 Opioid Congress Presentations in Learn at ACGME

The ACGME participates in and supports the NAM Action Collaborative on Countering the US Opioid Epidemic. ACGME Chief Research, Milestone Development, and Evaluation Officer Eric Holmboe, MD, MACP, FRCP is a member of the Steering Committee and co-chairs the Health Professional Education and Training Working Group. The Working Group is currently identifying and highlighting professional practice gaps for health care professionals in relation to acute and chronic pain management and substance use disorders, as well as analyzing current accreditation, certification, and regulatory requirements for the same.

Learn more about the goals of the NAM Action Collaborative on Countering the US Opioid Epidemic

Improving the way opioids are prescribed through clinical practice guidelines can ensure patients have access to safer, more effective chronic pain treatment while reducing the number of people who misuse or overdose from these drugs.

The CDC developed and published the CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain to provide recommendations for the prescribing of opioid pain medication for patients 18 and older in primary care settings. Recommendations focus on the use of opioids in treating chronic pain outside of active cancer treatment, palliative care, and end-of-life care.

Learn more about the CDC Guidelines