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Introduction

Professional Profile Details

9/22/2026 - Medical Grand Rounds: Update in Addiction Medicine: Spotlight on Alpha-2 Agonists

Quiz

Evaluation

Certificate

Introduction

Credit Hours: 1.00

Target Audience:

Faculty, residents, fellows, and community physicians in General Internal Medicine and subspecialties.

Educational Objectives:

Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to:

  • Explain the epidemiology and clinical effects of novel adulterants in the unregulated opioid supply.
  • Recognize and manage withdrawal associated with alpha-2 adrenergic adulterants.
  • Apply strategies to reduce risks associated with an evolving unregulated drug supply.
  • Identify opportunities for health systems to adapt clinical services in response to changes in the unregulated drug supply.

Suggested Additional Reading:

  1. Shang M, Hull I, Liebschutz JM, et al. Building multidisciplinary consensus on inpatient xylazine management through clinical protocols. Subst Use Addctn J. 2025;46(4):806-816. doi:10.1177/29767342251329681
  2. Shang M, Hull I, Schultz K, Halpern D, McMurtrie G, Bell A, Liebschutz JM, Jawa R. “None of us asked for it”: Experiences of xylazine among individuals with xylazine-associated wounds. J Addict Med. 2025. doi: 10.1097/ADM.0000000000001634 
  3. Pressimone C, Alfaro L, Hull I, Jawa R, Roy P, Liebschutz JM, Shang M. Medetomidine exposure in a shifting drug landscape: insights from patient experiences. Annals of Internal Medicine. 2026;179(9). doi:10.7326/ANNALS-26-02480
  4. Lynch MJ, Pizon AF, Yealy DM. Emergence of Medetomidine in the Illicit Drug Supply: Implications for Emergency Care and Withdrawal Management. Ann Emerg Med. 2026;87(6):709-716. doi:10.1016/j.annemergmed.2025.12.004

Authors:
Margaret Shang, MD, MS — Assistant Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics
Program Director, Adolescent and Young Adult Addiction Medicine Fellowship
Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh
No relationships with industry relevant to the content of this educational activity have been disclosed.
Payel Jhoom Roy, MD, MSc — Associate Professor of Medicine
Clinical Director, Substance Treatment and Recovery Services (STARS)
Department of Meidicine, University of Pittsburgh
No relationships with industry relevant to the content of this educational activity have been disclosed.
No other members of the planning committee, speakers, presenters, authors, content reviewers and/or anyone else in a position to control the content of this education activity have relevant financial relationships with any companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.

In support of improving patient care, the University of Pittsburgh is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine designates this enduring material activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Each physician should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Other health care professionals will receive a certificate of attendance confirming the number of contact hours commensurate with the extent of participation in this activity.

The University of Pittsburgh is an affirmative action, equal opportunity institution.