According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), overdoses from prescription opioids are a driving factor in the 15-year increase in opioid overdose deaths. Since 1999, the amount of prescription opioids sold in the U.S. nearly quadrupled, yet there has not been an overall change in the amount of pain that Americans report. However, deaths from prescription opioids – drugs like oxycodone, hydrocodone and methadone – have more than quadrupled in that time.
Attacking this devastating epidemic is a top priority. CMS recently released its Opioid Misuse Strategy. The mission of this strategy is to impact the national opioid misuse epidemic by combating non-medical use of prescription opioids, opioid use disorder and overdose through the promotion of safe and appropriate utilization, improved access to treatment and evidence-based practices for acute and chronic pain management.
In its Opioid Misuse Strategy, CMS identified four priority areas:
- Implement more effective person-centered and population-based strategies to reduce the risk of opioid use disorders, overdoses, inappropriate prescribing and drug diversion;
- Expand naloxone use, distribution and access when clinically appropriate;
- Expand screening, diagnosis and treatment of opioid use disorders, with an emphasis on increasing access to medication-assisted treatment; and
- Increase the use of evidence-based practices for acute and chronic pain management.
Access the CMS Opioid Misuse Strategy
The Great Plains QIN partners with providers, pharmacists and stakeholders in the region to reduce and monitor Adverse Drug Events (ADEs). A specific strategy to advance this work is to monitor Medicare consumer ADE rates on several prescription medications; one being opioids. Learn how you can partner with the Great Plains QIN to reduce ADEs by visiting our website.