Increase your Confidence in Opioid Prescribing: Marketing Messages in Continuing Medical Education Activities on ER/LA Opioids.

Background: Overprescription of opioids has fueled an epidemic of addiction and overdose deaths. The FDA required manufacturers of extended-release/long-acting (ER/LA) opioids to fund continuing medical education (CME) on opioids as part of a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS).

Objectives: We sought to determine whether industry-funded REMS on long-acting opioids were consistent with the FDA's goal to reduce serious, adverse outcomes resulting from inappropriate prescribing, misuse, and abuse.

Enough Is Enough.

In this cartoon, a guilt-ridden and heavily scarred surgeon prepares to self-flagellate to atone for his team's failed attempts to save the life of an innocent child victim of a mass shooting. One of his nurses, carrying an assault rifle modified to serve as his whip, attempts to stop him by reminding him that the blame is not his to bear. We in the field of medicine can and must do more for our patients than simply treating their wounds and consoling their families and loved ones after tragic, senseless losses.