Buprenorphine for Opioid Use Disorder: Clinical Effectiveness, Safety, and Access

August 12, 2026

Buprenorphine is a cornerstone medication for the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD) and plays a critical role in reducing overdose risk and improving treatment retention. This session provides an overview of buprenorphine’s pharmacology, effectiveness, and role within evidence-based OUD treatment. Participants will review initiation strategies, maintenance therapy, and considerations for special populations. The session will also explore safety issues, diversion concerns, stigma, regulatory changes, and interdisciplinary collaboration to improve patient access and outcomes.

Target Audience

This knowledge-based course is intended for Pharmacists (ACPE), Pharmacy Technicians (ACPE), Physicians (ACCME), Physician Assistants (ACCME), Nurse Practitioners (ABN), Dentists (AL board approval), Nurses (ABN), Social Workers (ABSWE).   

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to:

  1. Describe the mechanism of action and therapeutic benefits of buprenorphine in the treatment of opioid use disorder.
  2. Identify best practices for initiating and maintaining buprenorphine therapy in diverse clinical settings.
  3. Recognize safety considerations, contraindications, and strategies to reduce misuse and diversion.
  4. Discuss regulatory requirements, stigma-related barriers, and system-level factors affecting access to buprenorphine treatment
Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 1.00 ABN
    Auburn University Harrison College of Pharmacy is a board-approved provider of continuing nursing education in Alabama by the Alabama Board of Nursing. Provider Number: ABNP1515
  • 1.00 ABSWE
  • 1.00 ACPE Pharmacy
    Auburn University is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education; credits are recognized nationwide.
  • 1.00 ACPE Technician
    Auburn University is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education; credits are recognized nationwide.
  • 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
  • 1.00 BDEA
Course opens: 
02/20/2026
Course expires: 
02/20/2029
Event starts: 
08/12/2026 - 12:00pm CDT
Event ends: 
08/12/2026 - 1:00pm CDT
Cost:
$0.00
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PDF icon Buprenorphine for Opioid Use Disorder Clinical Effectiveness...-program packet.pdf

Live Webinar
United States

Participants will be provided the webinar link once enrolled in the course by accessing the course content under 'Take Course' - Course Instructions and Course Material. Please use this link to join the live webinar at the scheduled time. All registered participants will also receive an email the day before the program with program information, including the webinar link. 

Dr. Engeriser attended medical school at Northwestern University and completed psychiatry residency training at Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu. Dr. Engeriser served an additional three years in the Army at Fort Benning, Georgia, where he held the position of Chief, Department of Behavioral Health. After separating from the Army, Dr. Engeriser was Medical Director of Mid-Coast Mental Health Center/PenBay Psychiatry in Rockland, Maine. Prior to attending medical school, he completed a Master of Arts in Divinity at the University of Chicago and worked as a teacher of English at the Teacher Training College in Torun, Poland. Dr. Engeriser is a Past President of the Alabama Psychiatric Physicians Association, and he is currently President of the Alabama Society of Addiction Medicine. He is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and American Society of Addiction Medicine. He is currently the Deputy Chief Medical Officer for AltaPointe Health and is the Program Director for the Psychiatry Residency and Addiction Medicine Fellowship at the University of South Alabama.

Auburn University is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education; credits are recognized nationwide. The Universal Activity Number for this knowledge-based program is 0001-9999-26-005-L08-P and is intended for Pharmacists (ACPE), Physicians (ACCME), Physician Assistants (ACCME), Nurse Practitioners (ABN), Nurses (ABN), Dentists (AL board approval), and Social Workers (ABSWE).

ABN - Auburn University Harrison College of Pharmacy is a Board-approved provider of continuing nursing education in Alabama by the Alabama Board of Nursing. Provider Number: ABNP1515.

ABSWE - Auburn University Harrison College of Pharmacy is a Board-approved provider of continuing education for social workers by the Alabama Board of Social Work Examiners. Provider Number: 0643

 

Disclosures: No commercial support is received for this program. Presenter Name(s) and others in control of content have no actual or potential conflict of interest in relation to this program. No individuals in a position to control content for this activity have any relevant financial relationships to declare.

 

Available Credit

  • 1.00 ABN
    Auburn University Harrison College of Pharmacy is a board-approved provider of continuing nursing education in Alabama by the Alabama Board of Nursing. Provider Number: ABNP1515
  • 1.00 ABSWE
  • 1.00 ACPE Pharmacy
    Auburn University is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education; credits are recognized nationwide.
  • 1.00 ACPE Technician
    Auburn University is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education; credits are recognized nationwide.
  • 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
  • 1.00 BDEA

Price

Cost:
$0.00
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