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Benzodiazepines: Challenges and Solutions

Presented by Christopher Blazes, MD

This three-part course aims to offer a comprehensive overview of benzodiazepines, potent psychoactive substances with significant clinical utility. While invaluable in appropriate contexts, their misuse has led to physiological dependence and addiction. Discontinuation or tapering can pose challenges, resulting in complex clinical scenarios and patient interactions. While tapering has been the conventional standard for deprescribing, there’s growing interest in exploring alternative methods supported by emerging evidence. Additionally, some patients experience chronic sequelae from long-term benzodiazepine use even after extended periods of abstinence.

  • Develop an understanding of complex persistent benzodiazepine dependence
  • Gain exposure to underutilized alternatives to benzodiazepine tapers for discontinuation.
  • Review the sequela of long-term benzodiazepine use.
  • Review the historical perspective of benzodiazepine marketing and how it led to them being prescribed predominantly to women.

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of the Hanley Center for Health Leadership and Education and CCSME. The Hanley Center for Health Leadership and Education is accredited by the Maine Medical Association Committee on Continuing Medical Education and Accreditation to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The Hanley Center for Health Leadership and Education designates this regularly scheduled series for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit ™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

*Nurses and Nurse Practitioners will be awarded a certificate of participation with a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit ™.

  • Contact Hours 1 contact hours for social workers, licensed clinical professional counselors, and behavioral health professionals.
  • 1 Category 1 Contact hours for psychologists. CCSME is a pre-approved sponsor and provider of Professional Education Activities for Psychologists.
  • 1 contract hours CHES. CCSME is a designated provider of continuing education contact hours (CECH) in health education by the National Commission of Health Education Credentialing, Inc.
  • 1 contact hours for Alcohol and Drug Counselors pending approval by the Maine Board of Alcohol and Drug Counselors

This course has been approved by Co-Occurring Collaborative Serving Maine (CCSME), as a NAADAC Approved Education Provider, for 1 educational credits. NAADAC Provider #324712, CCSME is responsible for all aspects of the programming.

This activity qualifies for 0 credit of the CME requirement for opioid medication education found in P.L. 2015, Chapter 488, Maine’s legislation to address the opioid drug crisis.

This course is self-paced and the estimated time to complete is approximately 60 minutes. In addition to viewing a 50-minute video presentation, learners must earn a score of 80% or higher on a post-assessment and complete the post evaluation to receive contact hours or CME credits for completing the course. Supplemental course materials (i.e. pdf of slides) are also provided.

The Hanley Center for Health Leadership and Education designates this regularly scheduled series for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit ™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

This activity qualifies for 0 credit of the CME requirement for opioid medication education found in P.L. 2015, Chapter 488, Maine’s legislation to address the opioid drug crisis.

  • Estimated Time to Complete:  hour (includes viewing recording, and completing both the quiz and evaluation)
  • Registration Fee: FREE for Maine Clinicians
  • CME Credits Offered: 
  • Computer with Internet connection
  • Current version of Chrome, Firefox or Safari browser.
  • You must have javascript enabled.
  • The quiz tools thin the online modules are not fully compatible with smartphones or tablets. In order to avoid issues, such as answers not being recorded, we recommend using a computer to complete the pre- and post-tests.

At the end of the course, there is a post-test, and you will have as many attempts as needed to earn a grade of 80% or higher to receive contact hours or CME credit. The survey to evaluate the course at the conclusion is also required to receive credit.

Disclosures

The planners, presenters, and speakers do not have any relevant financial relationships.

Funding Statement

Funding for this online learning module was provided by the Maine Bureau of Licensure in Medicine.

Course Content

1: Benzodiazepines – Challenges and Solutions
3: Benzodiazepines- Challenges and Solutions 1 Quiz
Lesson Content
Evaluation and Certificate