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Join the Providers Clinical Support System – Medications for Opioid Use Disorders (PCSS-MOUD) and the National Council for Mental Wellbeing on Aug. 20, 2026, 3-4 p.m. ET, for Addressing Nicotine Use in Patients with Opioid Use Disorder. Learn how integrating nicotine treatment into opioid use disorder (OUD) care can strengthen recovery outcomes and improve whole-person care.
Nicotine dependence commonly co-occurs with OUD, with smoking rates among people receiving OUD treatment reported as high as 85%. While tobacco use has declined in the general population, nicotine use remains widespread in addiction treatment settings. Although effective medications and behavioral interventions are available, nicotine dependence is often overlooked in routine care.
This session explores the complex relationship between nicotine and opioid use, including shared biological pathways and how co-use can intensify pain, cravings, and withdrawal. Patients may rely on nicotine to manage stress or withdrawal symptoms, creating a reinforcing cycle that complicates recovery. Integrating treatment for both conditions is increasingly recognized as essential to improving long-term outcomes.
What You’ll Learn
- Examine the co-occurrence and prevalence of nicotine use among patients with OUD
- Understand the clinical rationale for treating nicotine and opioid use together
- Apply evidence-based strategies to integrate nicotine treatment into standard practice
Featured Presenter
Chad Morris, PhD – Professor of Psychiatry, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus; Director, Behavioral Health & Wellness Program
Credit Designations Available
AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™, AAPA Category 1 CME Credit, Nursing Contact Hours, Social Work CE Credit, Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) Credit