Special Interest Session

SIS-07 - Eye of the Storm: The Debate on Opioid Public Policy

Wednesday, September 7, 2022

2:40 PM – 3:30 PM

Location: L3/Gracia 3

Co-Presenter(s)

Timothy J. Atkinson, PharmD, BCPS

Clinical Pharmacy Practitioner, Pain Management
VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System
Murfreesburo, Tennessee
Jessica Geiger, PharmD, MS, BCPS, CPE

Palliative Care Clinical Coordinator, PGY2 Pain and Palliative Care Residency Program Director
OhioHealth
Powell, Ohio
Jeffrey J. Bettinger, PharmD

Pain Management Clinical Pharmacist
Saratoga Hospital Medical Group
Schenectady, New York

Slides

The opioid crisis has changed, or has it? Are we only now seeing the full picture of what it has been all along? The public health concerns remain valid, but with more providers refusing to prescribe opioids and patients choosing suicide over pain, has the pendulum swung too far? There are numerous positives to highlight progress in reducing opioid prescriptions and manufacturing. However, the focus appears to remain on prescription opioids despite obvious signs that Rx opioids are not driving the current crisis. The last few years of opioid public policy have been enlightening particularly with evidence released, casualties of strict enforcement of guidelines, and sensationalized outcomes. Join us for one of the hottest debate topics: the audience and participants will be fully invested!