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Safe and Effective Prescribing of Controlled Substances in Substance Abuse Treatment
This course explores the safe and effective prescribing, administration, monitoring, and management of controlled substances within substance abuse treatment and behavioral health settings. Emphasis is placed on patient safety, medication-assisted treatment considerations, prevention of misuse and diversion, and the importance of clear communication among providers, staff, patients, and support systems.
Participants will review common substances encountered in treatment settings, medication safety principles, patient-centered prescribing practices, documentation expectations, and strategies for reducing medication errors. The course also addresses controlled substance storage, patient education, overdose prevention, naloxone awareness, and quality improvement processes that support safe care in detox, residential, outpatient, and mental health treatment environments.
Course Objectives
Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:
- Understand the role of controlled substances in substance abuse treatment and behavioral health care.
- Identify commonly encountered substances, including opioids, benzodiazepines, stimulants, alcohol, and other substances of misuse.
- Recognize risks associated with drug interactions, contraindications, co-occurring disorders, and polysubstance use.
- Apply patient-centered approaches to medication safety, prescribing, administration, and monitoring.
- Describe the importance of the “Seven Rights” of medication administration in reducing medication errors.
- Understand strategies for preventing diversion, misuse, and medication-related harm in treatment settings.
- Explain the importance of proper medication storage, labeling, documentation, and disposal.
- Enhance patient education regarding medication adherence, overdose prevention, naloxone, and safe use of prescribed medications.
- Recognize the importance of staff education, competency, communication, and nonpunitive reporting of medication errors or near-misses.
- Apply quality assurance and risk management strategies to improve medication safety and treatment outcomes.
Information
- Relevance: This course was designed for healthcare professionals, behavioral health staff, substance abuse treatment providers, and facility personnel who are involved in the prescribing, administration, monitoring, storage, or documentation of controlled substances in substance abuse treatment and mental health care settings.
- Content Level: Intermediate
- Course Format: This course is offered as a self-paced distance learning format (reading-based online activity)
- System Requirements: This course is offered online. Internet connection required.
- Course Completion Information: To earn continuing education credit, professionals must register and pay the fee for the course. They must read the content and demonstrate understanding by earning a minimum score of 70 percent on testing materials. The certificate of completion will be able to be downloaded after the above is completed. Refunds will be granted upon request with the withdrawal of credit for the course. For questions, concerns, or to request special accommodations, please call 866-863-4225 or email ContactUs@BaysideCEU.com.
- CEBroker Course ID: 1
- Last Updated: June 23, 2026