The focus of this committee is to learn from one another and to share ideas, resources and updates on

1. the treatment of pain with non-pharmacological, non-opioid pharmacologic, and possibly opioid pharmacologic approaches. 

2. approaches to preventing and treating opioid overdose.

3. prevention, treatment and recovery of opioid use disorder and other use disorders.                 

Meeting Minutes, Slide Decks, and Meeting Recordings
 

11-18-2025 / Guest Speaker: John Torsch
COMPASSIONATE OVERDOSE RESPONSE & RECOVERY SERVICES BEST PRACTICES

Mr. Torsch, who is a person who uses drugs, and a person in long term recovery from addiction, is the co-founder & Program Director of the Daniel Carl Torsch Foundation which serves those experiencing addiction, homelessness and others. He is an expert in Compassionate OD Response who has trained over 1,000 people, gave a compelling presentation from the front lines, with some big picture observations and an interesting critique of some aspects of current treatment and recovery practices. 

Resources:

• Meeting slide deck:  Harm Reduction and Compassionate Overdose Response
• Video:  “Evolving Overdose Response” 8-2025, Thomas Jefferson University (The best online training on compassionate overdose response we've seen).  
• Slide deck accompanying the above video.

7-15-2025 / Guest Speaker: Ana Lazarides, Director of the Maryland PDMP
MARYLAND OPIOID ACADEMIC DETAILING (AD) & THE PDMP PROGRAM

Dr. Adams presented on Academic Detailing published literature and resources.

Resources:

• 7/15/2025 Meeting Minutes
• Meeting Slide Deck 1 by Ms. Lazarides: 'MD's Opioid Academic Detailing Program'
• Meeting Slide Deck 2 by Dr. Adams: 'Academic Detailing for Opioid Prescribing'

5-20-2025 / Guest Speakers: Drew Fuller, M.D., and Shannon Tieman, PMHNP
IS IT TIME TO WEAN? ENGAGING THE BENZODIAZEPINE EPIDEMIC

Dr. Adams gave a brief presentation on Brief Counseling for Anxiety by Non-Mental Health Providers, because patients tapering off of benzos have to learn alternatives to 'pharmacological coping.'

Resources:

• 5/20/2025 Meeting Minutes
• 5/20/2025 Meeting Recording
• Meeting Slide Deck 1: 'An Introduction to the Outpatient Benzodiazepine Engagement & Safer Taper/Transition Program (BEST-T)'
• Meeting Slide Deck 2: Brief Counseling for Anxiety by Non-Mental Health Providers
• One page Patient Handout on Anxiety: to use alone or with brief counseling (which is facilitated by the handout), written by Sally Winston Psy.D., founder of the Anxiety & Stress Disorders, Institute of Maryland, with Dr. Adams; Includes independent ratings of mental health apps, etc.

3-18-2025 / Guest Speaker: Don Teater, M.D.
BASICS OF EFFECTIVE PAIN MANAGEMENT

After the meeting, MedChi videotaped the presentation and made it available for free CME. See that online CME course, and the accompanying slide deck, HERE. Dr. Adams, Committee Chair, described this as the only appropriate online course on prescribing opioids for pain he has seen, with a perspective very different from that of the Opioid REMS courses funded by opioid manufacturers.

Resources:

• 3/18/2025 Meeting Minutes

1-14-2025 / Guest Speaker: Ann Ciekot of Public Policy Partners
"DRUG-INDUCED HOMICIDE" BILL INTRODUCED IN THE MD. GEN ASSEMBLY TO INCREASE PENALTIES FOR SHARING, DISTRIBUTING DRUGS, OPPOSED BY THE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH COMMUNITY

Also discussed critique of the opioid REMS program trainings on prescription opioids for pain.

Resources:

• 1/14/2025 Meeting Minutes
• Meeting Slide Deck:  Prescription Opioids in Chronic Pain: An Overdose Prevention Opportunity

9-17-2024 / Guest Speakers: Alonzo Whyte, PhD, and Malik Burnett, M.D., MBA, MPH
DEBATE ON THE ROLE OF THE OPIOID-ANALGESIC NALMEFENE - UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES?
     

With Alonzo Whyte, PhD of Indivior Inc., and Malik Burnett, M.D., MBA, MPH, former Medical Director, Center for Harm Reduction Services, MDH.

Resources:

• 9/17/2024 Meeting Minutes

5-21-2024
POSSIBLE RESOLUTIONS FOR MEDCHI HOUSE OF DELEGATES (HOD)

Resources:

• 5/21/2024 Meeting Minutes
• ‘Inappropriate Certification of Discriminatory Recovery Residences’
• ‘Reduction of Insurance Barriers to the Use of Buprenorphine for Pain’

Note, subsequently the first of these was adopted by the HOD: click here.        

3-19-2024 / Guest Speakers Sarah Merritt, M.D., and Drew Fuller, M.D.

     
PRESENTATION BY SARAH MERRITT, M.D., ON BUPRENORPHINE FOR PAIN and PRESENTATION BY DREW FULLER, M.D., ON BUP AFTER OD IN MARYLAND EDs.

Gave a summary of recently enacted state legislation to promote this and MOUD Access in Recovery Residences in Maryland.

Resources:

• 3/19/2024 Meeting Minutes

1/16/2024
POSSIBLE STATE LEARNING COLLABORATIVE ON BUP AFTER OD, or for OUD.

Discussed removing insurance barriers for bup for pain and addiction and possible OTP Reporting of dispensed MOUD to the PDMP.

Resources:

• 1/16/2024 Meeting Minutes

10-17-2023
INPATIENT OPIOID STEWARDSHIPS and IMPROVING OUD TREATMENT & REFERRAL IN EDs

Role of MDH in limiting MOUD Access in Recovery Residences

Problems with "Opioid REMS" trainings; Dr. Adams recommends an alternative: possibly the most appropriate online training on prescription opioids.

Resources:

• 10-17-2023 Meeting Minutes

7/19/2023
NEW FORMAT OF THIS OPA COMMITTEE - POSSIBLE TOPICS

Discussed post-op opioid prescribing.

Resources:

• 7/19/2023 Meeting Minutes

Basics of Effective Pain Management - Free

This 1-hour online module will discuss our current understanding of pain, opioids, and addiction.  With a better understanding of these three issues, providers will be better equipped to treat acute and chronic pain in ways that are both effective and safe.  Attendees will learn that safety does not need to be sacrificed to achieve effectiveness and, effectiveness does not need to be sacrificed to achieve safety. For a slide deck of this presentation, please click here.