Preparing future physicians to treat patients with opioid addiction

Recently U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri met with students and faculty at the Kansas City (Missouri) University of Medicine and Biosciences College of Osteopathic Medicine (KCU-COM) to learn more about the osteopathic medical school’s curriculum to prepare future physicians for treating patients with opioid addiction.

During his visit, Blunt heard from KCU-COM faculty who design curricula and physicians who currently treat opioid abuse.

KCU-COM is among the nation’s medical schools that have pledged to improve prescriber education by requiring students to receive training in line with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidelines for teaching pain and addiction management in an effort to address the prescription opioid abuse epidemic.

Currently, the osteopathic medical school offers classes in pharmacology, physiology of addiction and non-pharmacological treatment for pain including osteopathic manipulative treatment, according to a statement from the school. KCU-COM also brings recovering patients to lectures to talk about substance abuse disorders.

Beginning next month, KCU-COM will begin medical simulations to give first- and second-year students an opportunity to practice treating patients facing complications from pain and medication addiction.