Opioid misuse and abuse: risk assessment and management in patients with cancer pain

The FDA's 2012 risk evaluation and mitigation strategy is a major step toward systematically reducing the inherent risks of chronic opioid therapy for pain, but does not distinguish between risks related to sources of pain. This article discusses the effect of risk mitigation in the treatment o...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Vol. 11; no. 8; p. 1023
Main Authors Anghelescu, Doralina L, Ehrentraut, Jennifer Harman, Faughnan, Lane G
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.08.2013
Subjects
Adolescent
Adult
Analgesics, Opioid - therapeutic use
Female
Humans
Male
Neoplasms - drug therapy
Opioid-Related Disorders - diagnosis
Opioid-Related Disorders - prevention & control
Pain - drug therapy
Pain Management - methods
Risk Assessment
Risk Factors
Young Adult
Online AccessGet more information

Cover

More Information
Summary:The FDA's 2012 risk evaluation and mitigation strategy is a major step toward systematically reducing the inherent risks of chronic opioid therapy for pain, but does not distinguish between risks related to sources of pain. This article discusses the effect of risk mitigation in the treatment of cancer pain, with a focus on pretreatment screening and ongoing monitoring in this patient population that often requires pain management at some time during cancer treatment. Experience with screening, risk stratification, and interventions at one cancer center is shared, along with some recommendations for practice. A new screening checklist is proposed that summarizes known risk factors. Patients with cancer are not protected from the problems of opioid abuse/misuse, and the multidisciplinary cancer treatment team should coordinate an evaluation of risk and the monitoring of aberrant behaviors as part of the comprehensive care plan.
ISSN:1540-1413
DOI:10.6004/jnccn.2013.0120