What the American Academy of Pain Medicine has to say about the new CDC guidelines

[clean_in_ks]

I just had this information shared with me from another chronic pain group that I'm in.  It is the American Academy of Pain Medicine's response to the new CDC guidelines for opiates.  Thought you all might appreciate seeing it and knowing their web site as well.

CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain
A statement from the American Academy of Pain Medicine
The American Academy of Pain Medicine cautiously supports the efforts of the CDC to address the
challenges that often accompany prescribing opioids for chronic non-cancer pain. AAPM has long
emphasized safety and effectiveness in pain treatment, and the CDC guideline echoes many of its
recommendations.
“We know that doctors – primary care and pain medicine specialists – are integral in treating pain wisely
and carefully monitoring for signs of substance abuse. Abuse and diversion of prescription opioids must
be addressed. Opioids are not the usual first choice for treating chronic non-cancer pain, but they are
an important option—as part of a comprehensive multidisciplinary approach— that must remain
available to physicians and appropriately selected patients,” said Dan Carr, MD, President of the
American Academy of Pain Medicine and Professor of Public Health and Community Medicine at Tufts
University.
“We need to address both chronic pain and its treatment as public health challenges. This view is
endorsed by the National Academy of Medicine and outlined in the draft National Pain Strategy from
the NIH. Public health problems are typically complex; well-meaning, but narrowly targeted,
interventions often provoke unanticipated consequences. We share concerns voiced by patient and
professional groups, and other Federal agencies, that the CDC guideline makes disproportionately strong
recommendations based upon a narrowly selected portion of the available clinical evidence. It is
incumbent upon us all to monitor the deployment of the guideline to ensure that it does not
inadvertently encourage under-treatment, marginalization, and stigmatization of the many patients with
chronic pain that are using opioids appropriately.”
March 16, 2016
8735 West Higgins Rd. Suite 300
Chicago, IL 60631
847-375-4731 Phone
847-375-6429 Fax
***@****
...................................
www.painmed.org

[Dee1956]

This is very good news! Thank  you. I know that my family member on pain management with his primary care will be happy to know this!

[remar]

This is great news. Thank you for posting this.
I have to wonder why and how the CDC even got involved in pain treatment. CDC stands for Center for Disease Control. In my opinion, they have no business getting into a chronic patients treatment and their relationship with their Dr.
This is good news though because you shouldn't have to be a cancer patient to be treated properly with pain medication if it's needed. We should not be under treated either. This is a huge problem with CPP's. Our Drs should have the right to keep our pain levels as low as possible so we can have a life.