The epidemic -- Guidance for opioid prescribing -- Assess benefits of opioid therapy -- Assess harms of opioid therapy -- Tapering and discontinuing opioid therapy.

Patients with pain should receive treatment that provides the greatest benefit. Opioids are not the first-line therapy for chronic pain outside of active cancer treatment, palliative care, and end-of-life care. Evidence suggests that nonopioid treatments, including nonopioid medications and nonpharmacological therapies can provide relief to those suffering from chronic pain, and are safer.

Learn more: ww.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/prescribing/guideline.html

Fact sheet for: Dowell D, Haegerich TM, Chou R. CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain — United States, 2016. MMWR Recomm Rep 2016;65:1–49.

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assessing_benefits_harms_of_opioid_therapy-a.pdf

Stephen B. Thacker CDC Library collection