Policymakers Call for Guidelines, Training, and Research to Mitigate Unhealthy Opioid Use Among People with Chronic Pain

A recent review article by two leading US substance use policymakers points to strategies for addressing opioid use among people with chronic pain. Of note, the authors recommend: prescribers follow current guidelines for prescription dosage and duration; better training for medical students in the treatment of chronic pain; and increased research into pain management interventions.

Reference: Volkow ND, McLellan AT. Opioid abuse in chronic pain—misconceptions and mitigation strategies. N Engl J Med. 2016;374(13):1253–1263.