Implement Strategies to Help Ensure Opioids Are Used Properly

You'll see greater emphasis on limiting opioids for chronic noncancer pain...to reduce opioid misuse, overdoses, and death.

Expect most patients with chronic noncancer pain to use nondrug therapies (exercise, tai chi, massage, etc)...and non-opioid meds (NSAIDs, duloxetine, etc). These help relieve pain and don't carry the same abuse and misuse risks as opioids.

Make sure to ask patients about medical conditions and social history...and add this to their profiles. Those with an active substance abuse disorder, including alcohol, should get non-opioid options for pain...to reduce the risk of addiction and overdose.