Health groups want alternatives to opioids

An interim report released at a pain management conference suggests the best way to cut down on opioid addiction is to not prescribe the drugs in the first place.

Michael Heitshu, chair of the Coalition for Safe and Effective Pain Management, says a lack of affordable alternatives for pain relief in Canada is partly behind an over-reliance on opioids and rising addiction rates.

“Canada is the second-leading consumer of opioids in the world and it doesn’t have to be. What the coalition is doing is looking ... at why opioids are being prescribed and what could be done to reduce the prevalence of opioid prescribing,” Heitshu said Monday in Calgary.

Heitshu said more than 19 million prescriptions were written for opioids in Canada last year.

“The strong growth of opioid prescribing in Canada has been for quite common pain conditions like back pain, arthritis and chronic pain. These are actually conditions where opioids aren’t that effective and where the risks are tremendous,” Heitshu said.

The report suggests doctors recommend alternative therapies such as psychological treatments, physio and occupational therapy, and chiropractic care.