The American Society of Anesthesiologists is joining with the American Medical Association in announcing the first of several national recommendations for reducing opioid abuse.
Here are five quick facts:
1. The ASA is a part of the AMA's Task Force to Reduce Opioid Abuse.
2. The task force includes 27 physician, specialty, state and other healthcare organizations.
3. It aims to identify ways to combat opioid abuse, a public health crisis.
4. The task force's first initiative will be to urge physicians to register for and use state-based prescription drug monitoring programs.
5. The initiative aims to enhance physicians' education on safe, effective and evidence-based prescribing.