Veterinary Education's Role in the Opioid Epidemic: Integration of an Online Safe Opioid Prescribing Course into the Core Curriculum.

The article focuses on the role of veterinarians in the opioid epidemic and the need for enhanced education on safe opioid prescribing within veterinary curricula. It highlights that veterinarians prescribe opioids in significant quantities, which can contribute to opioid misuse and diversion, and that many veterinary professionals report inadequate training on this topic. Drawing on strategies used in human medical education, the article proposes incorporating comprehensive safe opioid prescribing education—including federal regulations, pain management, and diversion prevention—into veterinary programs, with an emphasis on online learning as an efficient delivery method. A specific example is provided of a required 3-hour online course integrated into the second-year veterinary curriculum to address these educational gaps.