The “SAFEST” Way to Navigate Substance Abuse—A Talking Map for Difficult Situations (SA507)

Current literature suggests that up to 40% of patients with palliative care needs have risk factors for substance abuse. As controlled substances, such as opioids and benzodiazepines, are often prescribed for the management of symptoms, these risk factors can directly influence a patient ’s adherence to these classes of medication. Palliative care clinicians seeing patients in the outpatient setting must balance the goal of pain control with vigilance for overuse of prescribed medications, often in combination with alcohol or benzodiazepines, and sometimes even addiction.

Source: Journal of Pain and Symptom Management - February 1, 2018 Category: Palliative Care Authors: Julie Childers, Jennifer Pruskowski, Pina Patel Source Type: research