Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Education: DEA Requirement

Beginning on June 27, 2023, the DEA requires a one-time attestation of training on management of substance use disorders (SUDs) prior to renewal of a DEA registration.  

SUD

The DEA has released guidance on the new one-time requirement for completion of eight hours of training on the treatment and management of patients with opioid or other SUDs. 

As an ACCME-accredited CME provider with Commendation, ACP offers a wide variety of recommended activities that count toward meeting the new DEA attestation requirement.

Choose from the curated list below to satisfy the completion of a minimum eight hours of substance use disorder CME.

Featured Education

ACP Pain Management 7: Opioid Use Disorder 5 CME

This interactive training module provides background information necessary to support clinicians in their care for persons with opioid use disorder (OUD), including persons with coexisting chronic pain. 

Begin

Xylazine Adulteration of the Heroin–Fentanyl Drug Supply, A Narrative Review 0.5 CME

Clinical experience along with the available pertinent research were used to review Xylazine, an animal sedative, and provide guidance on the care of patients exposed to Xylazine, published in Annals of Internal Medicine. After reading the article, follow instructions on the Point-of-Care CME page to claim credit.

Begin

SUD Presentations from 2023 Internal Medicine Meeting 2.5 CME

Captured from Internal Medicine Meeting 2023, this video bundle package provides 2.5 hours of high-yield video content covering strategies and management options for treating substance use disorder.

Begin

X-Express: The ABCs of Prescribing Buprenorphine 1 CME

This highly practical one-hour video course provides an overview of the role buprenorphine plays in the management of opioid use disorder.

Begin

Education By Format Type

Interactive Multimedia

  • ACP Pain Management 7: Opioid Use Disorder 5 CME
    This interactive training module provides background information necessary to support clinicians in their care for persons with opioid use disorder (OUD), including persons with coexisting chronic pain.

Video

Podcasts

Journal Articles/Annals in the Clinic

  • Xylazine Adulteration of the Heroin–Fentanyl Drug Supply, A Narrative Review 0.5 CME
    Clinical experience along with the available pertinent research were used to review Xylazine, an animal sedative, and provide guidance on the care of patients exposed to Xylazine, published in Annals of Internal Medicine. After reading the article, follow instructions on the Point-of-Care CME page to claim credit.
  • Alcohol Use 1.5 CME
    Unhealthy alcohol use—the consumption of alcohol at a level that has caused or has the potential to cause adverse physical, psychological, or social consequences—is common, underrecognized, and undertreated. For example, data from the 2020 National Survey on Drug Use and Health indicate that 7.0% of adults reported heavy alcohol use in the previous month, and only 4.2% of adults with alcohol use disorder received treatment. Primary care is an important setting for optimizing screening and treatment of unhealthy alcohol use to promote individual and public health.
  • Opioid Use Disorder 1.5 CME
    Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a treatable chronic disorder with episodes of remission and recurrence characterized by loss of control of opioid use, compulsive use, and continued use despite harms. If untreated, OUD is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Buprenorphine and methadone reduce fatal and nonfatal opioid overdose and infectious complications of OUD and are the first-line treatment options. Physicians have an important role to play in diagnosing OUD and its comorbidities, offering evidence-based treatment, and delivering overdose prevention and other harm reduction services to people who continue to use opioids. Interdisciplinary office-based addiction treatment programs support high-quality OUD care.
  • Care of the Patient Using Cannabis 1.5 CME
    The past 2 decades have seen a revolution in legal access to cannabis, driven largely by activists and business interests. As a result, the population of cannabis users nationwide—especially daily users—has grown significantly. An estimated 4.5–7 million persons in the United States now meet criteria for cannabis use disorder annually. This article focuses on the effects of cannabis use, intoxication, and withdrawal while also reviewing the developmental pathways of cannabis use disorder as well as evidence-based pharmacologic and psychosocial treatments.

Additional substance use disorder education can be found in ACP's Online Learning Center.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the new DEA registration renewal requirement on substance use disorder (SUD)?

Beginning on June 27th, 2023, the DEA will require one-time attestation (checking a box on the online registration form) of training on management of substance use disorders (SUDs) prior to renewal of a DEA registration. The DEA has released guidance on the new one-time requirement for completion of eight hours of training on the treatment and management of patients with opioid or other SUDs.

The announcement lists many accredited provider groups to meet this new requirement but does ACP count?

Yes! As an ACCME-accredited (with commendation) organization, ACP’s offerings qualify on the basis of the stipulation stating that “any other organization accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (AACCME)…directly or through an organization accredited by a State medical society that is recognized by the ACCME…”

I already attended or participated in ACP educational activities related to SUD- does this count?

Yes. Past training on the treatment and management of patients with SUD via ACP can count towards meeting the requirement even if prior to the enactment of this new training obligation. Additionally, the training does not have to occur in one session. It can be cumulative across multiple sessions that equal eight hours of training.

I renewed my DEA license prior to the announcement of the requirement (or prior to implementation), do I still need to attest to the hours of training outlined in this requirement?

The attestation will only be solicited by the DEA upon registration (new or renewal) after the implementation date of June 27th, 2023. So, if you renewed your license in January of 2023, you would not be required to attest to your participation in training until the time of your next renewal.

I have already completed buprenorphine x-waiver training from my state—will this count towards this requirement?

Yes. Past DATA-Waived trainings count towards a DEA registrant’s 8-hour training requirement. Section 1262 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 (also known as Omnibus bill), removes the federal requirement for practitioners to submit a Notice of Intent (have a waiver) to prescribe medications, like buprenorphine, for the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD). The education requirement refers to substance use disorders and not exclusively opioid use disorder; therefore the 8 hours can be completed cumulatively in a variety of areas comprising SUD and across multiple sessions that total 8 hours of training.

I graduated from internal medicine residency in 2020 and I feel comfortable caring for patients with SUD. Do I need to still do this training?

The DEA currently accepts attestation of recent training only if you graduated from an accredited US medical school (MD or DO) within 5 years of June 27, 2023. During your school years you must have successfully completed a comprehensive curriculum that included at least eight hours of training on managing opioid or other SUDs, including use of all drugs approved by the FDA for SUD treatment. International medical graduates and graduates of US medical schools without comprehensive SUD curriculum should complete accredited CME content, even if CME hours are not formally submitted, to meet the attestation obligations.

I am not sure I even need this training let alone a DEA registration for the clinical work that I currently provide. How do I know for sure?

According to the DEA FAQs page, If you never plan on administering, dispensing or prescribing a controlled substance in your practice, you are not required to hold a DEA registration. ACP recommends you review the FAQ page of the DEA website for more information.