| One-Minute Clinician

Managing Pain in a World Without Opioids

Managing pain in a world without opioids is a scenario that would harm some because there are truly, in my experience, individuals for whom the use of an opioid analgesic on a long-term basis, on a regular basis, made a huge difference in that person’s ability to function comfortably and maximally. I think that if society moved in that direction, regrettably it would take a backlash that would likely last. It would take years for there to be momentum to swing the pendulum in the other direction.

I am hoping that we will be able to work collaboratively to limit bad prescribing, recognize that there are those whose substance abuse and other issues create a precarious situation or more precarious situation for opioid or controlled substance prescribing, and that we need to bring an understanding to the table.

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