This consortium of major stakeholders and constituency groups with interests in safe and effective use of opioid medications offers extensive experience in training and colleague support in the treatment of substance use disorders and specifically, opioid dependence treatment, as well as experience in the interface of pain and opioid misuse. In collaboration with our partners, educational products are available at no charge to those wishing to obtain additional knowledge on the safe and effective treatment of chronic pain with opioids and safe and effective treatment of opioid dependence.  Our focus will be on opioid medications without a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS) for example, immediate release, short-acting opioid medications.

We offer: 

1. Our extensive network of member organizations who serve in diverse communities, both urban and rural, and who provide services to clinicians with patients from many cultures and backgrounds, all of whom will benefit from the educational programs offered in the PCSS-O
2. Resources to deliver and disseminate trainings in safe and effective use of opioid medications 
3. Resources to build a peer support system

American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry (AAAP): is the lead organization for this project. With a membership of nearly 1,000 addiction psychiatrists, all with interests in clinical care and education; AAAP has been a key national organization involved with training and mentoring of physicians providing treatment for substance use disorders. AAAP has taken the lead in developing innovative approaches to training that have seen widespread success particularly in the area of office-based treatment of opioid dependence. AAAP developed the first 8-hour, online buprenorphine training leading to waiver eligibility. As one of five organizations authorized by DATA 2000 to train physicians in becoming waivered so that they may offer office-based treatment of opioid dependence, AAAP has trained over 8000 physicians.  The development of educational offerings for PCSS-O will build upon experiences gained in educational tool development to date, much of which is being utilized successfully in the Physicians' Clinical Support System-Buprenorphine. AAAP also leads the Education Committee for PCSS-O including development of web-based and webinar offerings, Tool Kit development, and virtual patient scenarios.