Opioid Crisis Information and Resources

As the opioid epidemic continues to dominate our national attention, states are enacting rules on opioids, on benzodiazepines, and other controlled substances. PACEP continues to work with various state agencies and legislators to find a solution to the opioid crisis.

ED Opioid Prescribing Guidelines
A task force of various state agencies, representatives from medical associations including PACEP and PAMED, provider advocates and community members developed and adopted guidelines for ten medical specialties on the safe and effective use of opioids in the treatment of pain.
Prescribing Guidelines

Warm Handoff
A warm handoff protocol, developed in partnership by the Pennsylvania departments of Health and Drug and Alcohol Programs as well and the Pennsylvania College of Emergency Physicians, and has been distributed statewide for recommended use by emergency room physicians and other healthcare professionals caring for overdose patients.
View the pathway

Warm-Handoff Summits
The Department of Health convened six, half-day regional summits bringing together stakeholders from the public and private sector across a range of disciplines to collaborate on ways to ensure the seamless transfer of opioid overdose survivors from emergency care to the treatment provider. PACEP members Charles Barbera, MD, MBA, FACEP; Alexander Rosenau, DO, CPE, FACEP; Michael Boyd, MD; Erik Kochert, MD, FACEP; and Michael Lynch, MD all volunteered to speak at the regional summits.
View Drs. Lynch and Boyd's Presentation
View Dr. Barbera's Presentation

National Resources
CDC Guidelines for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain: At a Glance
CDC Guidelines for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain — United States, 2016
The Comprehensive Addiciton and Recovery Act (CARA)
National Council of State Boards of Nursing: : Opioid Tool Kit
VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guideline For Opioid Therapy for Chronic Pain
American Bar Association Prudent Prescribing: An Overview of Recent Federal and State Guidelines for Opioid Prescriptions

Blogs on Opioid Prescribing:

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