Course Overview
This course will prepare learners to effectively and safely manage the treatment of clients receiving methadone or buprenorphine for opioid use disorder. The course will also promote interprofessional collaboration among the health care team involved in the delivery of opioid dependence treatment
Pharmacists who complete this course will be in compliance with the Ontario College of Pharmacists' policy regarding required training.
Learning Objectives
At the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Explain the pharmacology of opioids and how they affect the brain
- Diagnose patients for opioid use disorder based on the DSM-5 criteria
- Differentiate abstinence based treatment and withdrawal management from opioid agonist treatment
- Decide on the appropriate treatment modalities for opioid use disorder based on clients' needs and clinical assessment
- Safely prescribe, does and dispense medication for opioid use disorder
- Include counselling and case management in opioid agonist treatment
- Establish interprofessional collaborating when providing opioid agonist treatment
Course Requirements
All Registrants
- Submit a pre-course survey
- Post a short, personal introduction in the Introduction activity forum
- Complete Seven Modules
- Participate in, or watch the recording of four web meetings in preparation for the IPC reflection paper
- Submit an Interprofessional collaboration (IPC) Reflection Paper (1-2 pages long)
- Submit the course evaluation
- Pass the final quiz
Additional requirements for pharmacists
- Complete and submit two case studies (Module 6 & Module 7)
Certification and Accreditation
- College of Family Physicians of Canada – Mainpro+: This Self-Learning program meets the certification criteria of the College of Family Physicians of Canada and has been certified by Continuing Professional Development, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto for up to 12 Mainpro+ credits.
- Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada – Section 1: This event is an Accredited Group Learning Activity (Section 1) as defined by the Maintenance of Certification Program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, approved by Continuing Professional Development, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto. You may claim a maximum of 12 hours (credits are automatically calculated).
Affiliations and Partnerships
Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto
Delivery Method
Online
This course requires you to use an internet browser, but the system does not support Microsoft Internet Explorer. Instead, use one of the following:
- Apple Safari
- Google Chrome
- Microsoft Edge
- Mozilla Firefox
For more details, please read the page.
Relevant Links and Resources
Please note: Physical copies are not included in course fees. You can purchase the CAMH publications at the CAMH store.
For all course participants:
- CAMH (2021): Opioid Agonist Therapy: A Synthesis of Canadian Guidelines for Treating Opioid Use Disorder
- Making the Choice, Making it Work - Treatment for Opioid Addiction
For pharmacists:
- Opioid Agonist Maintenance Treatment: A Pharmacist's Guide to Methadone and Buprenorphine for Opioid Use Disorders (CAMH)
- OCP Opioid Policy
Please review the cancellation policy
The CAMH Global Learning Academy for Mental Health (GLAMH) is a centralized learning platform that consolidates CAMH mental health and addiction education and resources for health care providers, patients, families and the general public. 
