DIA 2018 Global Annual Meeting

Prescription opioids can be used to treat moderate-to-severe pain, such as pain following surgery or injury, in health conditions such as cancer, and in chronic, non-cancer conditions such as back pain or osteoarthritis. More than 25 million Americans suffer from daily chronic pain, and prescription opioid therapy has been instrumental in helping patients manage their symptoms and achieve a better quality of life. However, it is estimated that more than 2 million Americans have opioid use disorder (OUD), and that millions more misuse opioids, taking these medications longer or in higher doses than prescribed. The problem has reached a level of crisis, as an average of 115 Americans die each day from an overdose of opioids, either prescription or heroin. According to CDC statistics, the number of overdose deaths involving opioids increased five-fold from 1999 to 2016, driven largely by prescription opioids.

These alarming increases in opioid-related harms have mobilized the US health system to implement strategies to support safe use and appropriate prescribing behaviors. This session will examine the framework and current strategies for a well-balanced approach aimed at reducing the supply of opioids vulnerable to misuse and mitigating risks through more judicious prescribing. Panelists will discuss the critical need and ways to assess the impact of these strategies on patient health outcomes and public health in order to avoid creating barriers to appropriate treatment for both acute and chronic pain.