Are You Pledging to Fight the Opioid Epidemic?

CHICAGO, Sept. 21, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Recently, Vivek H. Murthy, M.D., M.B.A. (United States Surgeon General) sent a letter to US physicians about the impact that the opioid epidemic has had on communities and asks for their help:

"I am asking for your help to solve an urgent health crisis facing America: the opioid epidemic. Everywhere I travel, I see communities devastated by opioid overdoses. I meet families too ashamed to seek treatment for addiction. And I will never forget my own patient whose opioid use disorder began with a course of morphine after a routine procedure.

"It is important to recognize that we arrived at this place on a path paved with good intentions. Nearly two decades ago, we were encouraged to be more aggressive about treating pain, often without enough training and support to do so safely. This coincided with heavy marketing of opioids to doctors. Many of us were even taught – incorrectly – that opioids are not addictive when prescribed for legitimate pain."

"To help fight the opioid epidemic," said Michael Wong, JD (Executive Director, Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety), "the Surgeon General asks physicians to sign a pledge to educate themselves about treating pain, to better screen patients, and talk about and treat addiction 'as a chronic illness, not a moral failing.' Do you agree?"

Voice your opinion by taking this brief (two minute – five question) online survey by the Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety by going to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/opioidepidemic.

About Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety

Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety is a non-profit 501(c)(3) whose mission is to promote safer clinical practices and standards for patients through collaboration among healthcare experts, professionals, scientific researchers, and others, in order to improve healthcare delivery. For more information, please go to www.ppahs.org.

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SOURCE Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety

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http://www.ppahs.org