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As part of the efforts underway in the United States to disrupt the opioid epidemic, device-delivered therapies are being considered as an alternative or adjunct to systemic opioids in the management of acute and chronic pain.2
The opioid epidemic and the ongoing public health issues of pain management represent interrelated healthcare crises occurring simultaneously in the United States. For Medtronic, our work to alleviate pain using medical technology has never been more critical. Through greater awareness and use of device-delivered therapies, we can reduce pain for many patients, reducing their exposure to high dose opioid and/or long-term systemic opioid use that could lead to opioid misuse.
Millions of Americans are affected by the opioid epidemic, and their best hope is partners in healthcare coming together to create lasting solutions.3 Healthcare providers, payers, elected officials, regulators and patient advocacy groups all hold important pieces to the puzzle and must work together. It starts with novel care pathways and personalized treatment options to help these patients break their cycle of misuse or dependency. Solutions must also help the approximately 7.1 million patients who misuse opioids to alleviate pain, and these patients need effective policies and programs that will expand access to medical devices shown to relieve pain as an alternative or adjunct to systemic opioids.4
Partnership is the path forward in addressing the systemic opioid and pain management crises. All stakeholders must work together, pursuing effective policies and programs that will expand patient access to medical devices shown to relieve pain as an alternative or adjunct to systemic opioids.
We invite healthcare leaders to share in our journey, as we seek a better path forward for those living with chronic pain and take healthcare Further, Together.
Read the Medtronic Perspective:
USING MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY TO RELIEVE PAIN AND DISRUPT THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC (PDF)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Commonly used terms. https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/opioids/terms.html, Accessed July 2018.
US Food and Drug Administration. FDA’s opioid analgesic REMS education blueprint for health care providers involved in the treatment and monitoring of patients with pain, January 2018. https://www.regulations.gov/contentStreamer?documentId=FDA-2017-D-2497-0683&attachmentNumber=1&contentType=pdf., AccessedJuly 2018.
Institute of Medicine. Relieving pain in America: a blueprint for transforming prevention, care, education, and research. Washington DC, United States: The National Academies Press; 2011.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Key substance use and mental health indicators in the United States: results from the 2016 national survey on drug use and health. HHS publication no. SMA 17-5044, NSDUH Series H-52. 2017; https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/NSDUH-FFR1-2016/NSDUH-FFR1-2016.htm, Accessed July 2018.