Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is hosting a public conference call on its controversial Guidelines for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain Thursday, January 7, 2016, at 9:00 am ET.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is hosting a public conference call on its controversial Guidelines for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain Thursday, January 7, 2016, at 9:00 am ET.

The public can participate via a conference call. The dial-in number is: 1-888-395-7561, and the Participant Code is: 3954121.

The conference call will focus on the background for development of the CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain (Guideline) and the formation of the Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain Workgroup (Opioid Guideline Workgroup).

Public comments will be accepted, but only related to the formation of the Opioid Guideline Workgroup.

There will be 30 minutes allotted for public comments at the end of the session. All public comments will be limited to two-minutes per speaker.

In December, under mounting criticism from patients, physicians and industry, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced it opened a second period for public comment on its Guidelines for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain.

The public comment period opened December 14, 2015 and closes January 13, 2016. To comment, visit the Federal Register here. For tips on effective ways to communicate with the government, read this article.

To date, 1,794 comments have been received, reflecting the statements from people concerned that the guidelines will restrict access to opioids, as well as, statements from people concerned about over-prescribing and its relationship to addiction and overdose.

Myra Christopher, Director of the Pain Action Alliance to Implement a National Strategy (PAINS), which is a consortium of leaders working in professional societies, patient advocacy organizations, policy groups, consumers, payers and the private sector, said this about the open comment period.

“It is our hope that each of you and your organization will engage in this process, and I want to personally encourage you to do so. All of us are working to establish a new standard of chronic pain care – one that allows healthcare professionals and those living with chronic pain access to the full menu of treatment options, including opioids for those who benefit from them. We are all, however, also aware of the risks associated with these medications. It is important for CDC to get this right, and they need our help to do so.”

6 Responses

  1. As for, “Why things have changed”, the simple reason is people have used the system to get themselves addicted to the very drugs pain patients need to have some semblance of quality of life. As a result, many, having achieved their goal of addiction to prescription opioids, have also overdosed on these drugs.

    Here’s where we, chronic pain patients, come into the picture. Because of the actions of the aforementioned drug addiction scenarios, the DEA, state legislators, and people who have lost loved ones to overdoses of prescription drugs, not prescribed to them, not needed by them, have decided the best way to stop others from following this path is to stop EVERYONE from receiving opioids, even if the lives of millions of legitimate pain patients are ruined in the process.

    This tactic has no hope whatsoever of stopping those who are determined to access drugs. It will, however, cause suffering, loss of quality of life, and probably suicide as chronic pain patients are denied the only treatment for their intractable pain.

  2. my mother would not be able to do anything with out her med. she has always said it’s quality of life over quantity of life .

  3. I dont understand, The arthritis foundation as well as accepted medical prodiical has used opiate therapy for many many years. I don’t understand why things have changed. I know doctors have overprescribed but the studies have proved that opiates work long term! Am I wrong? For me I have been on them for over 12 years and they have saved my life!

    • My son and I were born with pancreatitis. If not for the pain medication, we would not be able to eat anything. They have saved our lives as well. It is WHEN there is a reduction in the amounts prescribed that are needed for survival that turn people to the street where there is NO medical guidance. And THAT is what is killing people. For those who have died from an overdose, is there any study or statistics that show which pain medication caused the overdose and death (such as heroin) or are we just blaming it on ALL pain meds?

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