title: Chronic Pain and the Opioid Conundrum.
abstract: Opioids prescribed for chronic cancer and noncancer pain have been embroiled in public policy debates as to effectiveness and potential for contributing to society's problem with misuse, addiction, and overdose mortality. The conundrum of opioid prescribing is to determine who will most likely benefit from opioids and how medical practitioners may safely provide chronic opioid therapy, while also identifying patients who are unlikely to benefit or could divert illicit pharmaceuticals into society. Risk assessment and monitoring are essential to meet the standard of care, as is compliance with federal controlled substances law as well as state regulations.
authors.affiliation: Scientific Affairs, PRA Health Sciences, 3838 South 700 East, Suite 202, Salt Lake City, UT 84106, USA. Electronic address: lrwebstermd@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Lynn R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Webster
mesh_terms: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid
keywords: Chronic pain; Government; Opioid analgesics; Policy; Practice guidelines