Issue: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, each day, 44 people in the United States die from overdose of prescription painkillers. In recent years, there has been a dramatic increase in the acceptance and use of prescription opioids for the treatment of chronic, non-cancer pain, such as back pain. Unsafe prescribing practices are a leading contributor to the epidemic. Description:Pathways to Safer Opioid Use, produced by the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, is an interactive, simulation based lesson. The training uses the principles of health literacy and a team-based approach to promote the safe and effective use of opioids to manage chronic pain. The training allows the participant to assume the role of 4 playable characters who make decisions, controlled by the training participant, about preventing opioid-related adverse drug events. The characters represent a primary care physician, a nurse, a pharmacist and a patient. This type of simulation based learning appeals to adult learners who retain information best when they are engaged in self-directed, active participation. Lessons learned: In an evaluation querying over 470 health professionals, 80% of participants reported that they planned on implementing something they learned during the online activity in their job and/or practice. Recommendations: Health care professionals may be more likely to adopt appropriate opioid prescribing strategies if they are engaged in patient centered simulation based learning. The opioid crisis, as well as future public health crises, may be averted by using health professional training in a similar simulation based format.