Patient-Centered Reduction or Discontinuation of Long-term Opioid Analgesics: The HHS Guide for Clinicians

Prescription opioid use continues to contribute to significant morbidity and mortality in the United States.^1-4 In 2017, 17 029 of the 47 600 opioid-related overdose deaths involved prescription opioids.⁵ Nearly 2 million individuals in the United States have a prescription opioid use disorder.¹ At the same time, approximately 11% of US adults report daily pain,¹ and an estimated 3% to 4% use opioids long-term to help manage chronic pain.¹ Although limiting opioid analgesic prescribing to situations for which benefits outweigh risks can improve individual and population health, rapidly decreasing or abruptly discontinuing long-term opioid analgesics can significantly increase the risk of adverse consequences, including opioid-related hospitalizations and emergency department visits.³