Ohio Governor John Kasich’s Cabinet Opiate Action Team announced on Tuesday the adoption of new opioid prescribing guidelines for outpatient candidates with acute pain that is generally resolved within 12 weeks.
The new guidelines recommend non-opioid treatment options whenever possible, as well as limiting the amount of opioids used in the treatment of short-term pain where appropriate. The guidelines also serve to expand upon the state’s prescribing guidelines for emergency departments and acute care facilities and for the management of pain lasting longer than 12 weeks.
The new guidelines were developed by the governor’s Cabinet Opiate Action Team, working in conjunction with clinical professional associations, providers, state licensing boards and state agencies.
“Too many families are being torn apart by drugs and that is why we have been so proactive in exploring new ways to prevent Ohioans from becoming addicted to prescription opioids,” Kasich said. “Building upon prescribing guidelines we established for emergency departments and chronic pain, these new protocols for treating short-term pain will strengthen our efforts to fight abuse and ultimately save lives.”
In 2014, the state of Ohio dispensed more than 262 million opioid doses for the management of acute pain, which is 35 percent of the 750 million total dispensed opioid doses in the state.
“The new guidelines urge prescribers to first consider non-opioid therapies and pain medications for the management of acute pain when appropriate, to avoid the potential misuse and abuse of opioids that can lead to addiction,” Dr. Mary DiOrio, medical director for the Ohio Department of Health, said. “When opioid medications are necessary to manage a patient’s acute pain, the guidelines recommend that the clinician prescribe the minimum quantity necessary without automatic refills.”