As a profession, we have long been committed to multidisciplinary efforts to end the opioid epidemic that has devastated families and communities across the United States. Earlier this year, I read a powerful story by Dr. Omar Abubaker, an oral surgeon in Richmond, Virginia. His 21-year-old son, Adam, died suddenly after overdosing on a combination of heroin and benzodiazepine. Even though he is an oral surgeon, he missed the signs that something was wrong.

I'm a parent myself, and Dr. Abubaker's story hits close to home. I have talked with him at length about his experience, and he has reminded me that each of us needs to challenge our views on addiction and reexamine our pain management practices.

With that in mind, I'd like to invite you to attend a webinar, Adolescent Pain Management and NSAID Considerations, on June 7. Dr. Paul Moore, a professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine, will lead the webinar and focus on non-opioid strategies for treating patients, especially young adults, experiencing acute pain. After this webinar, you will be able to:

 • Explain the rationale for combining the two peripherally-acting analgesics acetaminophen (Tylenol®) and ibuprofen (Advil®).
 • Be cognizant of factors that may contribute to young adult dental patients being at greater risk of opioid abuse following dental surgery.
 • Provide at least four instructional elements recommended when counseling patients regarding safe and responsible prescribing of opioids following a dental procedure.

I hope you will be able to join us on June 7. You can learn more and register here. Participants are eligible for one hour of CE credit.

Thank you for your efforts as we work together to defeat this epidemic.