Pain Management and Symptom Control for Hospice Patients with Substance Use Disorder

Hospice patients living with substance use disorder (SUD) face complex clinical and psychosocial challenges that can complicate pain and symptom management at the end of life. This webinar focuses on delivering compassionate, effective comfort care while addressing issues of tolerance, dependence, stigma, and safety. Participants will explore how to balance adequate symptom relief with thoughtful risk mitigation—always centering the patient’s goals, dignity, and quality of life.

This session is designed for hospice and palliative care clinicians seeking to strengthen comfort-focused care while honoring both safety and compassion at the end of life.

Meet Our Presenter:

Eric Marty, MD, is a UW Health palliative care doctor. He’s also a faculty member at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health in the Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Medical Oncology and Palliative Care.

Dr. Marty provides specialized medical care for patients and families who are dealing with serious illnesses. These include cancer, COPD (lung disease that makes breathing hard), heart failure and cirrhosis (liver damage).

As a palliative care physician, Dr. Marty works to ease his patients’ pain, reduce complications, and help them live their greatest possible quality of life. He’s part of a care team that offers physical, emotional and spiritual support for people coping with complex diseases.

During his free time, Dr. Marty enjoys running, reading, listening to podcasts and spending time with family.