On November 3, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released its final 2022 Clinical Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain. For the reason that introduction of the CDC Guideline in 2016, there was overwhelming and widespread evidence of great hostile consequences to 1000’s of pain patients including forced tapering, a whole lot of documented suicides, sudden lack of access to medication triggering withdrawal, dismissal from physician practices, inability to seek out medical care, and lack of function and quality of life.
The U.S. Pain Foundation has been a staunch advocate in speaking out concerning the damage and harm the Guideline has needlessly caused those with chronic pain. We’ve got submitted comments, been interviewed for articles, taken part in panel discussions, podcasts, talk shows, and more to focus on the missing patient voice within the national conversation and controversy surrounding the Guidelines.
Cindy Steinberg, national director of policy and advocacy for U.S. Pain, was interviewed following the discharge of the document this afternoon by a national news outlet.
Below are her responses to the questions posed.
