Dear Pharmacist and/or Support Staff,
In March of 2016, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released the Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain. The summary of evidence demonstrates that the risk of opioid use greatly outweighs the benefit for the majority of patients. Their in-depth review echoed conclusions drawn by many other organizations – the benefit gained from the long-term use of opioids for chronic, non-cancer pain, does not outweigh the associated risks of using the medication. Population studies of death rates and prescribing practices demonstrate a close relationship between the amount of opioids prescribed and deaths related to their use. In short, there is inadequate evidence to support long-term opioid use for chronic, non-cancer pain.