CDC Clarifies Pain Guideline Not Intended to Deny Opioids Access to Cancer Patients/Survivors
April 9, 2019
CDC Clarifies Pain Guideline Not Intended to Deny Opioids Access to Cancer Patients/Survivors
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a key clarification on its Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain. The clarification comes as a result of a collaborative effort by ASCO, the American Society of Hematology (ASH), CDC, and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) to clarify CDC’s opioid prescribing guideline to ensure appropriate implementation for people with cancer, cancer survivors, and patients with sickle cell disease.
CDC’s clarification conveys that its guideline is not intended to deny clinically-appropriate opioid therapy to any patients who suffer acute or chronic pain from cancer or sickle cell disease, but rather to ensure that physicians and patients consider all safe and effective treatment options for pain management with the goal of reducing inappropriate use.
