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Papers of the Week


Papers: 14 Mar 2020 - 20 Mar 2020


2020 Mar 13


Curr Oncol Rep


22


4

Stringent Control of Opioids: Sound Public Health Measures, but a Step Too Far in Palliative Care?

Authors

Pinkerton R, Mitchell G, Hardy J
Curr Oncol Rep. 2020 Mar 13; 22(4):34.
PMID: 32170510.

Abstract

Opioids are the only class of drug with the proven ability to control severe pain. The introduction of stringent opioid prescribing restrictions has inevitably impacted upon the ability of those prescribing opioids for advanced life-limited disease to practice as previously and could limit the supply of adequate pain relief to patients with cancer. This review considers the evidence that symptom management of patients with advanced cancer contributes to the "opioid problem" and whether there is adequate recognition of the risks involved.