TA S K F O R C E T O C O M B AT P R E S C R I P T I O N O P I O I D A B U S E

D R . E D W I N P E R E Z , M . D .

P R E S C R I P T I O N PA I N M A N A G E M E N T

M E D I C AT I O N — I N C L U D I N G O P I O I D S — C A N B E

E X T R E M E LY B E N E F I C I A L T O A L L E V I AT I N G T H E

S I G N I F I C A N T D A I LY PA I N E X P E R I E N C E D B Y

I N D I V I D U A L S .

W H E N TA K E N I N M O D E R AT I O N

A C C O R D I N G T O T H E A M E R I C A N S O C I E T Y O F A D D I C T I O N M E D I C I N E , A P P R O X I M AT E LY 1 . 9 M I L L I O N A M E R I C A N S A R E L I V I N G W I T H A

P R E S C R I P T I O N O P I O I D A B U S E O R D E P E N D E N C E D I S O R D E R . I T S R E A C H K N O W S N O B O U N D S , A S I T A F F E C T S I N D I V I D U A L S I N E V E R Y S I N G L E A M E R I C A N S TAT E , C O U N T Y, S O C I O - E C O N O M I C A N D E T H N I C G R O U P.

U N F O R T U N A T E LY, T H E S E P R O D U C T S C A N B E H I G H LY A D D I C T I V E A N D E A S I LY A B U S E D .

O P I O I D S

Are general categorization of “any various compounds that bind to specific receptors in the central nervous system and have analgesic–or pain relieving–effects including prescription medications such as oxycodone and hydrocodone and illicit substances such as heroin.”

J U S T O V E R A H A L F - M I L L I O N A M E R I C A N ’ S A R E C U R R E N T LY L I V I N G W I T H A H E R O I N A D D I C T I O N , A N D 2 3 P E R C E N T O F

W H I C H W I L L D E V E L O P C H R O N I C O P I O I D A D D I C T I O N D I S E A S E . T H E N U M B E R S A R E S TA G G E R I N G , A N D I T ’ S N E A R LY I M P O S S I B L E T O D E N Y T H E R AT E O F O P I O I D A D D I C T I O N H A S

I N C R E A S E D S O E X P O N E N T I A L LY T H AT I T H A S B E C O M E A N E P I D E M I C .

T H E U N I T E D S TAT E S G O V E R N M E N T H A S C R E AT E D A TA S K F O R C E

• Called the American Medical Association Task Force to Reduce Prescription Opioid Abuse

• Members of the task force are made up of those involved with numerous speciality healthcare associations including the American Society of Anesthesiologists, the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry & the American Academy of Pain Medication, among others.

• Their goal is to combat opioid addiction and prescription pill abuse

• They believe that physicians have a professional obligation to reverse the nation’s opioid epidemic

W I T H S P E C I F I C G O A L S T O M E E T, T H E TA S K F O R C E

H O P E S T O C O M B AT O P I O I D A D D I C T I O N

I N T H E U N I T E D S TAT E S

C O M P L E T E LY B Y H O L D I N G M O R E

P H Y S I C I A N S A C C O U N TA B L E

T H E S E G O A L S I N C L U D E

• Increasing physicians’ registration and use of effective PDMPs

• Enhancing physician’s education on effective, evidence-based prescribing

• Reducing the stigma of pain and promoting comprehensive assessment and treatment

• Reducing the stigma of substance use disorder and enhance access to treatment

• Expanding access to naloxone in the community and through co-prescribing

H T T P : / / D R E D W I N P E R E Z . O R G

T O L E A R N M O R E , V I S I T D R . E D W I N P E R E Z ’ S A N E S T H E S I O L O G Y A N D PA I N M A N A G E M E N T B L O G A T: