The Pennsylvania Medical Society has started a new patient empowerment advocacy program titled "Opioids for Pain: Be Smart. Be Safe. Be Sure," as a way to help curb opioid addiction.
The initiative aims to educate patients on the dangers of opioids through physician offices, health fairs and social media.
"[Patient empowerment is] as much a part of the answer as physician education, prescribing guidelines and opioid tracking," said Scott Shapiro, MD, president of PMS. "Patients will see prescribing patterns change and alternative options tried to reduce opioid use. That's going to be the new expectation instead of relying so heavily on opioids."
The program encourages patients to ask physicians several questions about medication prescribed for pain, including:
- Is this an opioid?
- At what level of pain should I take this medication?
- Do I have to take every pill in the prescription?
- Where can I safely dispose of leftover pills?
- What can I do to avoid addiction?
- What are possible warning signs of dependence or addiction?
- What can I do if I believe that I might have developed a dependence?