Patient advocates, policy experts and physicians offer conflicting opinions on the emergence of opioid contracts, used by pain physicians to ensure patients do not abuse or sell their opioid prescriptions, according to a Washington Post news report.
Opioid contracts may feature varying requirements, such as urine or blood drug tests or prescription refills at a single pharmacy. If a patient does not adhere to their signed opioid contracts, pain physicians may drop them from their practice, according to the news report.
Although the goal behind opioid contracts is to stamp out prescription drug abuse, such contracts may have unintentional repercussions, such as damaged trust and invasion of patients' privacy, patient advocates and policy experts say. Still, more pain physicians are adopting opioid contracts in the face of increasing prosecutions and legislation over alleged pain mills, according to the news report.
Read the news report about opioid contracts.
Read other coverage about pain management:
- Improvements in Pain Intensity, Relief and Physical Function Impact Treatment Satisfaction
- Pre-Injury Fear Contributes to Immediate Pain Intensity
Opioid contracts may feature varying requirements, such as urine or blood drug tests or prescription refills at a single pharmacy. If a patient does not adhere to their signed opioid contracts, pain physicians may drop them from their practice, according to the news report.
Although the goal behind opioid contracts is to stamp out prescription drug abuse, such contracts may have unintentional repercussions, such as damaged trust and invasion of patients' privacy, patient advocates and policy experts say. Still, more pain physicians are adopting opioid contracts in the face of increasing prosecutions and legislation over alleged pain mills, according to the news report.
Read the news report about opioid contracts.
Read other coverage about pain management:
- Improvements in Pain Intensity, Relief and Physical Function Impact Treatment Satisfaction
- Pre-Injury Fear Contributes to Immediate Pain Intensity