Quick Reference for Health Care Providers

Balancing pain management with the potential risks posed by prescription opioids is complex and challenging. CDC developed clinical tools and resources to give healthcare providers information and guidance to provide the best care for patients. Download and share the helpful resources below. CDC developed the Guideline to provide recommendations for prescribing opioids for chronic pain to patients 18 and older in primary care outside of active cancer, palliative, and end-of-life care.

 

The Guideline addresses:

  • When to initiate or continue opioids for chronic pain.
  • Opioid selection, dosage, duration, follow-up, and discontinuation
  • Assessing risk and addressing harms of opioid use.

 

Clinical Implementation Tools for Providers

A checklist of recommended actions when considering long-term opioid therapy for treating adults (18+) with chronic pain of 3 months or longer, excluding cancer, palliative, and end-of-life care.

Checklist for prescribing opioids for chronic pain

The CDC Opioid Prescribing Guideline Mobile Application (App) serves as a quick reference guide for healthcare professionals to help apply the recommendations of the CDC Guideline for prescribing opioids for chronic pain in clinical practice. The tool is intended to educate providers about the prescription opioid overdose epidemic and to inform clinical decision-making related to initiation, dosage safety when prescribing opioids, and motivational interviewing techniques.

CDC Opioid Prescribing Guideline App

Alcohol consumption is associated with opioid overdose and misuse. Healthcare providers can use the clinical prevention strategy, alcohol screening, and brief intervention (ASBI) before prescribing opioids to reduce opioid overdose deaths involving alcohol.

ASBI for People who Consume Alcohol and Use Opioids

Summarizes the 12 Guideline recommendations and provides specific clinical reminders to make them easier to review, understand, and implement.

Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain

The CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain provides up-to-date guidance on prescribing and weighing the risks and benefits of opioids and provides tips on what to do if harms outweigh the experienced benefits.

Assessing Benefits and Harms of Opioid Therapy

Summarizes the 12 Guideline recommendations and provides specific clinical reminders to make them easier to review, understand, and implement.

Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain

 

The CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain provides up-to-date guidance on prescribing and weighing the risks and benefits of opioids and provides tips on what to do if harms outweigh the experienced benefits.

Assessing Benefits and Harms of Opioid Therapy

Patients with pain should receive treatment that provides the greatest benefit. Opioids are not always the first-line therapy for chronic pain outside of active cancer treatment, palliative care, and end-of-life care. CDC's Nonopioid Treatment for Chronic pain provides examples of non-opioid medications and nonpharmacological treatments for chronic pain.

Guideline for Non-opioid Treatments for Chronic Pain

The use of “universal precautions” in opioid prescribing has been recommended since 2005,1 with urine drug toxicology (UDT) considered a crucial aspect of cautious risk mitigation. The CDC’s Urine Drug Testing (UDT) covers when to conduct a UDT, what to discuss with patients before ordering this test, an overview of potential results, and the types of tests available.

Urine Drug Testing

PDMPs can help identify patients who may be misusing prescription opioids or other prescription drugs and who may be at risk for overdose. CDC’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs) publication explores the importance of checking the PDMP before prescribing opioids. It also includes registration information and essential considerations while checking the PDMP.

PDMP Factsheet

Why is it important to calculate the total daily dosage of opioids? Patients prescribed higher opioid dosages are at higher risk of overdose death. CDC Publication for Calculating Total Daily Dose of Opioids for Safer Dosage explains the importance of calculating the total daily dosage of opioids and tips on how providers should use the total daily opioid dose in clinical practice.

Calculating Total Daily Dose of Opioids for Safer Dosage

To learn more about safer opioid prescribing methods for healthcare providers visit:  https://www.cdc.gov/opioids/providers/index.html

 

Additional Resources for Providers

Stigma and Addiction
Words Matter Terms to Use and Avoid When Talking About Addiction

This handout offers background information and tips for providers to keep in mind while using person-first language and terms to avoid reducing stigma and negative bias when discussing addiction. Although some language that may be considered stigmatizing is commonly used within social communities of people who struggle with substance use disorder (SUD), clinicians can show leadership in how language can destigmatize the disease of addiction. 

National Institute on Drug Abuse - https://www.drugabuse.gov

Colorado Prescription Drug Monitoring Program Tutorials

Vet shopping and drug diversion - A Guide for Veterinarians

With ever-changing laws and new criteria for prescribing opioid pain medications, drug seekers have become more creative in their efforts to obtain opioids. Veterinary clinics are one of the newest routes for drug-seeking behavior. “Vet shopping” is the solicitation of veterinarians to obtain a controlled substance prescription for their animal with no intent of administering it to their animal. View the fact sheet below to learn more about Vet Shopping and drug diversion. 

For more information, visit American Veterinary Medical Association
Opioid abuse and drug shortages | American Veterinary Medical Association (avma.org)