Opioid abuse in chronic pain misconceptions and mitigation strategies. | AHRQ Patient Safety Network

Opioid abuse in chronic pain misconceptions and mitigation strategies. | AHRQ Patient Safety Network

New England Journal of Medicine reviews opioid abuse in chronic pain, offers mitigation strategies including better monitoring and alternate prescriptions.
N Engl J Med. 2016;374:1253-1263.

• Review
 
• Published March 2016

Opioid abuse in chronic pain—misconceptions and mitigation strategies.

Volkow ND, McLellan AT. N Engl J Med. 2016;374:1253-1263.

The misuse of prescription opioids has received attention as both a clinical and public healthemergency. This review explains the physiological factors that contribute to this epidemic and clarifies current evidence to address misunderstandings about therapeutic opioids and risks involved in prescribing them. The authors suggest enhanced use of monitoring mechanisms and alternative therapies to promote safer methods of pain relief.

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