#088- Is it safe to prescribe opioids to older adults to manage chronic pain?  Many older adults are prescribed opioids to manage chronic pain. But in the midst of the opioid crisis and risk for addiction, the question arises, "can older adults use opioids safely?"  In this continuing education (CE) podcast episode  you'll learn:  the history of opioid crisisthe challenges and stigma faced by those living with chronic pain and substance use disorders. the impact of involuntarily withdrawing opioids from patients, new methods for openly discussing painthe difference between "physical dependence" and "addiction"get an expert answer to the question: "is addiction really a disease?" Click here to learn more about earning continuing education (CE) credits for this podcast. About today's guest... Dr. Sudheer Potru is a triple-board-certified anesthesiologist, interventional pain specialist, and addiction medicine specialist with strong interest in both opioid safety and addiction medicine. He is an assistant professor at Emory and the medical director of the Atlanta VA's complex pain clinic, which specializes in treating veterans who have chronic pain associated with high-dose opioid use or substance abuse problems. He sits on multiple national committees related to pain and substance use disorders and is actively involved with research and advocacy related to these topics. He has given numerous regional and national talks to both anesthesiology and pain societies on the topic of addiction and how best to manage vulnerable patients around the time of surgery and when they have chronic pain issues as well. Go to the show notes page here  Click here to learn more about earning CEUs for listening to this podcast.CEUs available for Social Workers, Psychologists, Counselors, Therapists, Aging Life Care Experts.