DEA Requirement for 8 Hours of CME on Addiction Medicine — OSU MedNet21 Can Help. In response to the opioid crisis, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) now requires all DEA-registered practitioners to complete a one-time, 8-hour training on the treatment and management of patients with opioid or other substance use disorders. This requirement, effective June 27, 2023, applies to all clinicians applying for or renewing their DEA registration.
This training aligns with the Medication Access and Training Expansion (MATE) Act, a key federal initiative aimed at equipping clinicians with the knowledge to better manage addiction and reduce drug-related harm.
MedNet21 Can Help You Meet This Requirement
To support clinicians, MedNet21 offers several accredited web-based CME programs that collectively fulfill the DEA’s 8-hour mandate. Each module below covers critical aspects of substance use disorder education, from clinical management to stigma reduction:
📚 OSU MedNet21 CME Programs That Meet the DEA Requirement:
- Clinician Approaches to Tobacco Cessation (available until May 22nd, 2028)Explore pharmacologic and behavioral strategies to help patients quit tobacco and nicotine products.
- Dual Diagnosis Treatment (available until March 27th, 2028)Gain tools for managing patients with co-occurring substance use and psychiatric disorders.
- Harm Reduction Strategies for People Who Use Drugs (available until January 16th, 2028)
Learn practical approaches for reducing drug-related harm in outpatient and community settings. - Motivational Interviewing for Patients with Substance Use Disorder (available until October 17th, 2027)
Understand how motivational interviewing enhances patient engagement and readiness for change. - Clinical Approaches to Cannabis Use (available until October 10th, 2027)
Review evidence-based strategies for discussing cannabis use and addressing misuse. - Alcohol Use Disorder (available until April 11th, 2027)
Learn to identify and treat alcohol use disorder using screening tools and medical therapies. - Chronic Pain and Addiction (available until February 22nd, 2027)
Address the complex intersection of pain management and substance use risk. - Clinical Presentations of Substance Intoxication and Withdrawal (available until January 13th, 2027)
Recognize and manage common patterns of intoxication and withdrawal in clinical settings. - Buprenorphine Treatment (available until September 28th, 2026)
Understand the use of buprenorphine for opioid use disorder, including prescribing logistics. - Addiction, Stigma, & Person-First Language (available until June 15th, 2026)
Reduce stigma and improve patient relationships through effective communication and awareness.
What You Need to Do
- Complete a total of 8 hours of training using any combination of the programs listed above.
- Retain your CME certificates as documentation in case of DEA audit.
- This is a one-time requirement, not a recurring mandate.
If you have questions or need help accessing these programs, contact the MedNet21 team at at 614.293.3473.