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Emerging Paradigms and Future Directions

EPF-04 - Opioid-Sparing Innovation: Integrative, Stepped-Care Strategies for Modern and Future Pain Management

Friday, September 11, 2026
7:30 AM - 8:20 AM PDT
The contemporary practice of pain medicine stands at a critical inflection point. While pharmacologic and interventional therapies remain foundational, opioid-centric and linear escalation models have proven insufficient for many patients living with complex, chronic pain. Persistent pain, polypharmacy, medication-limiting adverse effects, and misalignment between patient goals and treatment outcomes underscore the urgent need for innovative, multimodal approaches. This joint presentation delivered by two leaders in integrative medicine, each with over 20 years of clinical and academic experience, will position integrative pain management as a forward-looking, comprehensive, multidisciplinary pain management grounded in innovation for optimizing contemporary pain medicine, expanding the therapeutic landscape while maintaining rigorous scientific and regulatory standards.

Learning Objectives:

  • Describe the biopsychosocial mechanisms of pain and the rationale for integrating nonpharmacologic therapies within contemporary pain management.
  • Evaluate current evidence (systematic reviews, meta-analyses, guidelines from the past five years) on safety, efficacy, and clinical use of integrative modalities including acupuncture, mind-body interventions, movement therapies, nutrition, and supplements.
  • Apply opioid-sparing, stepped-care strategies incorporating evidence-based integrative therapies to improve function, quality of life, and medication stewardship.
  • Implement patient-centered, shared decision-making approaches tailored to diverse populations, including those with treatment hesitancy, psychosocial stressors, or limited access.
  • Integrate evidence-based integrative approaches into multidisciplinary practice while adhering to regulatory, documentation, and referral standards to optimize outcomes and support clinician wellbeing.