In Case You Missed It: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Guideline for Prescribing Opioids

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is raising awareness of the risk to patient health and safety because of misapplication of the Opioid Guideline for chronic pain. Please read the recent commentary in the New England Journal of Medicine, where authors of the 2016 CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain advise against misapplication of the Guideline that can put patients’ health and safety at risk.

Link to CDC Opioid Guideline and specific resources:  CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain

CDC Opioid Guideline Social Media Messaging:

• Read our recent @NEJM commentary where #CDC Guideline authors advise on avoiding misapplication of the 2016 #OpioidGuideline for chronic pain. CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain. Some policies, practices attributed to @CDCgov’s #OpioidGuideline for chronic pain are inconsistent with its recommendations. Read more from the Guideline authors in this recent @NEJM commentary: CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain
• @CDCgov is raising awareness of the risk to patient health and safety because of misapplication of the #OpioidGuideline for chronic pain. Read more from our Guideline authors in this recent @NEJM commentary: CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain
• Providers: There is a new @CDCgov @NEJM commentary on misapplication of the 2016 #OpioidGuideline for chronic pain: CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain
• Misapplication of @CDCgov #OpioidGuideline for chronic pain can put patient health and safety at risk.  Read our recent commentary in @NEJM on appropriate use of the 2016 Guideline: CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain
• @CDCgov #OpioidGuideline for chronic pain does not support stopping #opioids abruptly: this practice can risk patient health and safety. Read more about appropriate use of the 2016 Guideline in our recent @NEJM commentary: CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain
• @CDCgov #OpioidGuideline is for PCPs treating chronic pain in patients age 18+. The Guideline does not apply to patients who are (1) in active cancer treatment, (2) in acute sickle cell crises, or (3) in post-surgical pain. Learn more in our @NEJM commentary on misapplication of the Guideline: CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain
• Providers: Abrupt tapering or sudden discontinuation of #opioids can result in severe withdrawal symptoms, including pain and psychological distress. Some patients may then seek other sources of opioids. Read our commentary at @NEJM for more info: CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain