In response to the opioid epidemic that has swept the country, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released long-anticipated guidelines on prescribing opioid painkillers such as OxyContin and Percocet.
They were published Tuesday in JAMA, the Journal of the American Medical Association.
The advice is aimed at primary care physicians, who prescribe nearly half of the opioid painkillers consumed in the U.S. The guidelines aren't intended for doctors treating cancer patients or for end-of-life care.
The guidelines sparked controversy when a draft was released in the fall. Some pain specialists and patient advocates cited a lack of evidence supporting many of the recommendations. Critics voiced concern that the guidelines could result in patients being denied pain relief they legitimately need.
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1 comment:
I need 10 pain pills at most during a month since I started smoking marijuana last year for my broken back ad multiple fusions. My surgeon has done all he can and its up to my primary. She wants me to go to pain management where I have to quit smoking and eat 6 15mg percocets a day for the rest of my life! How is this right? The governor wants an opioid task force? Start with less patients per primary and more time to actually get to know your patients needs!
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