CDC Issues Guidelines for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain
- By BSTQ Staff
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released the CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain — United States, 2016 that provides recommendations for prescribers of opioids for chronic pain outside of active cancer treatment, palliative care and end-of-life care. The goal is to improve the care and safety of patients, promote integrated pain management and collaborative working relationships with other providers such as pharmacists, and make reference to collaborative practice models for the dispensing of naloxone. In the guideline, CDC recommends nonopioid therapy as the preferred treatment of chronic pain; prescribing the lowest effective dosage when opioids are used; and working with patients to establish pain treatment goals, checking for improvements in pain and function regularly, assessing for risks and benefits and tapering or discontinuing opioids when risks outweigh benefits. The guideline can be accessed at www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/65/rr/rr6501e1er.htm.
