This article is for physicians but it is interesting to see the kind of scrutiny that legitimate chronic pain sufferers can be subjected to because of the behavior of a few abusers of the drugs...
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By Erica Sprey
Prescription drug abuse in the United States is growing at an alarming rate, especially among young adults. During the period 2008 to 2011, nearly 28 percent of adults ages 18-25 used psychotherapeutic drugs for nonmedical purposes, according to the "National Survey on Drug Use and Health for Ages 12 and Older."
Prescribing opioid medications for patients who experience legitimate, chronic pain can be risky for both physician and patient. Yet, physicians can and should prescribe opioid medication for chronic pain patients, said Daniel P. Alford, program director for the Addiction Medicine Fellowship at Boston University School of Medicine, during a recent AMA webinar on "Assessing for Risk, Benefit and Harm when Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain."
He went on to say that while the potential for addiction and drug diverting is significant (89 percent and 75 percent respectively), "providers can be, and want to be, trained to prescribe opioids for chronic pain — safely and competently."
So, how should physicians approach their management of chronic pain patients? Alford recommends adopting universal precautions when prescribing opioid medication: using patient agreements (that contain informed consent); assessing patients for drug abuse/ misuse; monitoring patient well-being through face-to-face visits; and setting up a program to monitor patients for adherence, addiction, and diversion — which includes pill counts and blood and urine testing.
Diana Douglas, vice president of risk management and patient safety, with California-based Cooperative of American Physicians, Inc., advises physicians to set in place policies and procedures for their staff members to assist in managing and facilitating treatment for chronic pain patients.
Managing Chronic Pain Patients and Opioid Drugs
Blog | June 07, 201
Prescription drug abuse in the United States is growing at an alarming rate, especially among young adults. During the period 2008 to 2011, nearly 28 percent of adults ages 18-25 used psychotherapeutic drugs for nonmedical purposes, according to the "National Survey on Drug Use and Health for Ages 12 and Older."
Prescribing opioid medications for patients who experience legitimate, chronic pain can be risky for both physician and patient. Yet, physicians can and should prescribe opioid medication for chronic pain patients, said Daniel P. Alford, program director for the Addiction Medicine Fellowship at Boston University School of Medicine, during a recent AMA webinar on "Assessing for Risk, Benefit and Harm when Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain."
He went on to say that while the potential for addiction and drug diverting is significant (89 percent and 75 percent respectively), "providers can be, and want to be, trained to prescribe opioids for chronic pain — safely and competently."
So, how should physicians approach their management of chronic pain patients? Alford recommends adopting universal precautions when prescribing opioid medication: using patient agreements (that contain informed consent); assessing patients for drug abuse/ misuse; monitoring patient well-being through face-to-face visits; and setting up a program to monitor patients for adherence, addiction, and diversion — which includes pill counts and blood and urine testing.
Diana Douglas, vice president of risk management and patient safety, with California-based Cooperative of American Physicians, Inc., advises physicians to set in place policies and procedures for their staff members to assist in managing and facilitating treatment for chronic pain patients.
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