Dialogue Volume 13 Issue 2 2017 | Page 22

Opioid Strategy The College commits to wide-ranging strategy to address opioid crisis GOALS  acilitate safe and appropriate opioid F prescribing by physicians to patients;  Protect patient access to care; and  Reduce risk to both patients and the public. what the college says High dose prescribing presents risks Chronic pain patients need access to safe prescribing and non-opioid treatments Remediation is the preferred approach, if appropriate 22 Dialogue Issue 2, 2017 Sudden discontinuation has risks; taper instead Physicians should be supported with data and education Guidelines are important, as is the ability to exercise professional judgment College supports harm reduction efforts (supervised injection sites and access to naloxone) Opioid use and misuse are complex issues – there are no simple solutions