NASEM report will advance opioid prescribing guidelines

A consensus report providing a framework for evaluating opioid prescribing was released last month by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The publication, produced by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine (NASEM), developed the evidence for revising clinical guidelines related to prescribing opioids for acute pain. According to the agency announcement, “NASEM examined existing opioid analgesic prescribing guidelines, identified where there were gaps in evidence and outlined the type of research that will be needed to fill these gaps.” The FDA will consider the consensus report recommendations as the agency works to implement a provision of the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities Act (SUPPORT Act). (FDA news release, 12/19/19)