What physicians are saying about the new CDC opioid guidelines

Officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Tuesday released clinical guidelines for prescribing opioids to help combat the nation’s overdose epidemic, and physicians were swift to respond. Physicians are embracing the concepts for reducing harm but simultaneously are pointing out serious shortcomings that will need to be addressed. What’s in the guidelines The guidelines, which were published in JAMA and on the CDC website, are intended for primary care clinicians who treat adult patients for chronic pain in outpatient settings. Their main goals are to help physicians improve communication with their patients about the benefits and risks of using prescription opioids for chronic pain, provide safer and more effective care for chronic pain, and reduce opioid use disorder and overdose among their patients. The guidelines are intended to be a “flexible tool” to support informed decision-making, improve physicians’ confidence about how to manage chronic pain, and promote safer and more effective options for pain management, CDC Director Tom Frieden, MD, said on a media call Tuesday. The guidelines include 12 clinical recommendations, which are centered on three principles for improving patient care and safety: Nonopioid therapy—including physical therapy, exercise, nonopioid medications and cognitive behavioral therapy—is preferred for chronic pain management (excluding active cancer, palliative and end-of-life care). If opioi...
Source: AMA Wire - Category: Journals (General) Authors: Source Type: news