New rules could harm patients

Prescription drug diversion and abuse is a serious public health problem that has reached crisis levels across the U. S. At the same time, patients suffering from pain too often must go without adequate access to effective pain medications, resulting in needless suffering.

Don’t hinder doctors’ ability to prescribe pain relief

According to the Institute of Medicine, 100 million Americans suffer from chronic pain. We are dedicated to patient care and combating prescription drug abuse. But solutions must not discourage physicians from appropriately treating pain or reduce access to prescription drug therapies that reduce suffering.

Policymakers should avoid untested strategies that inhibit legitimate access to pain treatments and impose an unnecessary burden on patients who must forgo treatment and endure symptoms of constant pain when every agonizing minute counts.

Hydrocodone products are effective for pain relief. Restricting doctors’ ability to prescribe them could have negative consequences for patients who deserve the most effective treatment, and is likely to exacerbate problems for those who need immediate relief.

There is no evidence that reclassifying hydrocodone will curb misuse and abuse. However, evidence does show that rescheduling medications to higher and stricter classifications could reduce patient access and cause harm.

Some states are taking a onesize- fits- all approach, requiring physicians to check inadequate drug monitoring programs before prescribing a pain reliever. These databases could be effective clinical tools in some cases, but are unnecessary for many patients with obvious chronic pain or acute injuries. The poor design of many state databases needs to be improved to ensure the information is accurate, reliable and accessible before mandates can be considered.

To curb prescription drug abuse, we support useful databases for their intended purpose; better education for physicians, young people and patients; and permanent medication disposal programs.

Policymakers need a comprehensive, rational plan that combines prevention of prescription drug abuse and treatment for addiction with timely access to appropriate pain management for patients with chronic illness and pain. These goals need not be mutually exclusive.

Ardis Dee Hoven, M. D., is president of the American Medical Association. Chris Hansen is president of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network.