The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued draft guidelines for prescribing opioids to chronic pain patients in outpatient settings, according to an AHA News Now report.
Here are three points:
1. The voluntary guidelines include scientific knowledge about the effectiveness and risks of long-term opioid therapy.
2. The guidelines also provide recommendations for initiating or continuing opioids and opioid selection, dosage, duration and follow-up.
3. The CDC will accept comments through Jan. 13 on the draft guidelines.