2026 Opioid CE - Substance Use and Addiction, Veterinary Records & VCPR

This is a beginner, introductory or "refresher" course on understanding substance use.  It includes content on they psychology of addiction,  veterinary records, and VCPR.  

This course is not recommneded for those who need to use a phone to take the class.

This course is sponsored by the Oklahoma Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, and Oklahoma State Veterinary medicine.

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• Trouble enrolling or trouble with Canvas? Please visit our FAQ Page: https://vetmed.okstate.edu/continuing-education/faqs.html
• Contact the OSU IT Helpdesk if you need assistance. 

Continuing Education

This course has been approved as CE by the Oklahoma Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners (OBVME). This course is offered for a reduced rate due to funding support from OBVME. To see if this course is acceptable as CE in other states, please visit the state's specific guidelines. Many states accept CE from AVMA accredited veterinary schools. OSU CVM is an AVMA accredited veterinary school.

This course is for (2) hours of Opioid CE and is approved by the Oklahoma Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners and the Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners.  

Individual registration is requried.  $40.00 registration is per person. No CE if you have not registered for this course.

Note: Captions are auto-generated. Please interpret them with caution, especially where it pertains to medical treatment, medications and dosages. Please contact OSU CVM with any questions.

Time Requirements 

• 2 hours total.
• This course consists of several modules which can be completed at your own pace.  
• This course must be fully completed during the license renewal period in order to be accepted as continuing education. Courses started in one license renewal period and later finished in the following license renewal period are only accepted in the latter renewal period once fully complete.

Completing the Course 

• To complete the course, you must access all pages and earn 80% on the Assessments.
• Once you have completed the course, you can print a certificate of completion.

Do not duplicate this course.

Learning Outcomes:

Module 1:  Pharmacology of Analgesics

• Define key terms related to addiction, including substance use disorder, dopamine, and tolerance.
• Explain how addictive substances alter normal brain processes and the role of dopamine in the reward system.
• Identify risk factors and protective factors for addiction in veterinary professionals and apply them to hypothetical case scenarios.
• Compare the effects of different substances (e.g., alcohol, opioids, methamphetamine) on physical health, mental health, and brain function.
• Assess the effectiveness of combined treatment approaches (medication + behavioral therapy) for managing addiction and preventing relapse.

Module 2: Importance of Medical Notes/Veterinary Record Keeping (refresher)

• Analyze the legal, ethical, and clinical consequences of incomplete or inaccurate veterinary medical records. 
• Apply best-practice standards for documenting examinations, diagnostic, medications, and treatment plans in a legally defensible manner.
• Evaluate real-world case scenarios to identify documentation errors and propose corrective documentation strategies.
• Explain the essential components of a complete veterinary medical record and their role in continuity of care and legal protection.
• Create improved, case-specific medical notes using templates, individualized surgical reports, and clear communication strategies for client consent and patient identification.

Module 3:  Importance of VCPR (Refresher)

• Explain the four legal components of a valid Veterinary-Client-Patient Relationship (VCPR) as defined in Oklahoma.
• Apply VCPR requirements to determine when it is legally appropriate to prescribe or dispense medications in both small and large animal contexts.
• Distinguishing differences in how VCPR is maintained in small animals vs large/food animal practice, including time intervals and herd-level oversight.
• Evaluate clinical scenarios to identify risks associated with prescribing medications without an established VCPR, including animal health and food safety concerns.
•  Develop clinic protocols for establishing, maintaining, and documenting VCPR compliance and follow-up care arrangements for both routine and emergency situations.

Module 4:  Diversion, Security & Inventory of Controlled Substances (Refresher)

Review of key points impacting the handling of controlled substances 

Refund Policy: 

Oklahoma State University College of Veterinary Medicine CE office reserves the right to modify courses at any time. If a course or enrollment experience does not meet your expectations, please contact vetmedevents@okstate.edu. 

Refund decisions are subject to approval by the CE Director or Assistant Director. Significant justification as to the need for a refund must be provided. Please allow 5 business days for a decision to be made and action to be taken. To request a refund, please email vetmedevents@okstate.edu. Refunds may take several weeks to process.

Refunds are subject to an administrative fee.

Courses that reflect course completion are non-refundable.  

Course Notice: Non-credit courses and Continuing Education Units (CEs or CEUs) do not post to the Oklahoma State official transcript and do not count towards an academic record. CE students do not receive a University ID card and will not be granted access to University facilities such as recreation, transportation, and campus events.

Contact Us:

Need help registering or navigating a course? Email: vetmedevents@okstate.edu or call 405-744-7672.