REPORTS FROM COUNCIL
College Releases Update on
Progress of Opioid Strategy
T
This is an
overview of the
discussions and
decisions made
at the September
Council meeting.
he College has released
an interim update con-
taining actions taken in
support of our opi-
oid strategy. The College’s opioid
strategy is grounded in our steadfast
commitment to improved patient
and public safety. It identifies and
commits the CPSO to specific ac-
tions within our legislated area of
responsibility, and we are commit-
ted to reporting on our progress.
Below is more detailed informa-
tion about our activities:
pdated CPSO Prescribing
• U
Policy: The College has updated
the Prescribing Drugs policy
to reflect the release of the 2017
Canadian Guideline for Opioids
for Chronic Non-Cancer Pain.
Other updates made to the policy
include: considering alterna-
tives to opioid therapy; selecting
appropriate doses; monitoring
patients for signs of addiction;
and tapering.
A full review of the policy will
begin later this year.
• Opioid Information for Patients
and Physicians: Our new opioid
web portal provides online access
to a wide array of information
for physicians and patients. It
includes a Message to Patients
Living with Chronic Non-Cancer
Pain, and an FAQ for patients, as
well as Fact Sheets about each ele-
ment of our four-pronged opioid
strategy.
• Opioid Position Statement: The
CPSO’s Opioid Position State-
ment outlines the role of the
College and key elements of our
opioid strategy, namely to guide,
ISSUE 3, 2017 DIALOGUE
13