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CDC Releases Final Guideline for Prescribing Opioids

Description_cdc_opioid_guideline

On March 15, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued its final guideline for primary care physicians to follow when prescribing opioids for chronic pain in outpatient settings. The guideline's 12 recommendations are intended to improve patient-physician communication and reduce the risks of opioid use disorder, overdose and death.

The CDC also published complementary materials—including a fact sheet, checklist and posters—to assist physicians with implementing the recommendations.

Click here to read AAFP's perspective on the guideline, including its participation in offering recommendations and suggested changes to the draft guideline. According to the AAFP, although an AAFP representative participated on the team that developed the guidelines, the Academy won't decide whether or not to endorse the document until its review team assesses the changes from the draft version to the final guideline.

 

David Walsworth, MD, FAAFP, Associate Chair of Clinical Affairs in Michigan State University College of Human Medicine's Department of Family Medicine, will lead a general session during the 2016 Michigan Family Medicine Annual Conference & Expo on the many facets of chronic pain management on Monday, July 11, 10:15-11:15 a.m. He will discuss how to choose the appropriate pharmacological and/or non-pharmacological therapy based on patient characteristics; engage patients in conversation about their pain; and use shared decision-making to develop individualized pain management plans based on current evidence and guidelines. Click here to register today for the conference.