NAM issues guide to help clinicians counter opioid epidemic

The National Academy of Medicine today issued a guide to help clinicians counter the opioid epidemic. Developed by national experts on substance use disorders at the request of the National Governors Association, the paper calls for clinicians to prioritize non-opioid strategies when managing chronic pain, follow five axioms of responsible opioid prescribing, and promote policies that stimulate and support available scientific evidence. The axioms include tailoring the treatment for each patient, employing precautionary protocols, actively managing and monitoring the patient, working as a team with the patient and family, and linking to treatment services. “Clinicians are not expected to make these changes alone,” said NAM President Victor Dzau. “To truly have maximum impact on the health of their communities, they must work with patients and families, community leaders, elected officials and the business community.” AHA Chief Medical Officer Jay Bhatt, D.O., said, “We appreciate the work of the National Academy of Medicine in compiling this set of recommendations. AHA has spent the past year working with its members to help them identify and implement effective practices for addressing the opioid epidemic, and we know they will welcome some additional guidance from NAM.” AHA is a member of NAM’s Action Collaborative on Clinician Well-Being and Resilience and Leadership Consortium.