title: CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain - United States, 2016.
abstract: This guideline provides recommendations for primary care clinicians who are prescribing opioids for chronic pain outside of active cancer treatment, palliative care, and end-of-life care. The guideline addresses 1) when to initiate or continue opioids for chronic pain; 2) opioid selection, dosage, duration, follow-up, and discontinuation; and 3) assessing risk and addressing harms of opioid use. CDC developed the guideline using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) framework, and recommendations are made on the basis of a systematic review of the scientific evidence while considering benefits and harms, values and preferences, and resource allocation. CDC obtained input from experts, stakeholders, the public, peer reviewers, and a federally chartered advisory committee. It is important that patients receive appropriate pain treatment with careful consideration of the benefits and risks of treatment options. This guideline is intended to improve communication between clinicians and patients about the risks and benefits of opioid therapy for chronic pain, improve the safety and effectiveness of pain treatment, and reduce the risks associated with long-term opioid therapy, including opioid use disorder, overdose, and death. CDC has provided a checklist for prescribing opioids for chronic pain (http://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/38025) as well as a website (http://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/prescribingresources.html) with additional tools to guide clinicians in implementing the recommendations.
authors.affiliation: Division of Unintentional Injury Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, CDC, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dowell
authors.forename: Tamara M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Haegerich
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chou
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002487:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D064887:Observational Studies as Topic; D063487:Prescription Drug Misuse / Q000517:prevention & control; D011320:Primary Health Care; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid