New Ohio guidelines aim to deter over-prescribing opioids

New state guidelines announced this week seek to deter over-prescribing of opioids for treating acute pain by getting practitioners to not prescribe them at all (Source: “New Ohio guidelines on opioids for acute pain encourage alternative treatments, limited prescriptions,” Cleveland Plain Dealer, Jan. 19, 2016).

The guidelines, which were developed by the Governor's Cabinet Opiate Action Team, are part of a state effort to help address abuse of the highly addictive opioids -- a leading step to heroin addiction. These new guidelines establish protocols to prompt the doctor and patient to have discussions about non-opioid options for treatment of acute pain.

"We know that by decreasing the number of opioids dispensed we can help save lives," said Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor. "In Ohio, nearly 3 million people are prescribed opioids each year."