Assessing & Managing Pain

Assesses risk for opioid abuse among individuals prescribed opioids for treatment of chronic pain with a brief self-report screening tool designed for use with adult patients in primary care settings. Patients categorized as high risk are at increased likelihood of future abusive drug-related behavior.

Identifies individuals who have a high probability of having an SUD.

Screens individuals for drug dependence, including use of opioids, with an 11-item self-report instrument.

Assesses differences in attractiveness of different prescription opioid products and formulations to potential individuals with substance use disorders.

Describes a brief 5-item compliance checklist for use with chronic pain patients prescribed long-term opioid therapy to ask patients about aberrant drug-related behavior over the past month. Any positive response indicates problems with adherence with opioids.

Provides principles and language suggestions that clinicians can use when discussing opioid risks and safety monitoring or introducing a change in treatment plan.

Helps patients keep track of their function, pain, sleep, and alcohol/drug use. Allows providers to then use the chart to properly adjust the patient's medications to obtain optimal benefit and to minimize risk to health and safety.

Consent form on which patient acknowledges understanding and expectations of opioid therapy and agrees to adhere to agreed-upon patient behaviors.

Contains documents and presentations that can aid providers in their clinical decisions about starting, continuing, or tapering opioid therapy, as well as other challenges related to safe opioid prescribing for veterans with chronic pain.

Provides an evidence-based quality improvement roadmap to help primary care teams implement effective, guideline-driven care for their chronic pain and long-term opioid therapy patients.