In the United States, around 5 million people are living with opioid use disorder.
Every year, tens of thousands die from drug overdoses, and in 2023 alone, about 105,000 people lost their lives to overdose.
Most of those deaths—about 80%—involved opioids. With this ongoing crisis, new efforts are being made to help prevent addiction and save lives.
One group that plays an important role in preventing opioid misuse is nurse practitioners. These are highly trained nurses who can diagnose conditions, prescribe medications, and manage treatment plans.
But many nurse practitioners don’t get much training in pain management, which can make it difficult to know how and when to safely prescribe opioid medications.
To help with this, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new guidelines in 2022 to give clearer direction. A study from the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA), published in The Nurse Practitioner journal, looked at how these updated guidelines can support nurse practitioners in reducing opioid misuse.
Rhonda Winegar, a professor at UTA and a practicing nurse practitioner, led the study. She explained that the CDC guidelines walk healthcare providers through each step of the process.
This helps them make better choices, keep a closer watch on patients, and avoid prescribing opioids when they’re not really needed. According to Dr. Winegar, “These guidelines help ensure that nurse practitioners are part of the solution, not the problem.”
The updated guidelines are based on four important areas. First, healthcare providers must decide whether opioids are the right choice for a patient. Second, if opioids are needed, the provider must choose the correct type and dosage.
Third, they must set limits on how long the patient should take the medication and make sure they follow up. Fourth, they must check for risks and take steps to prevent misuse.
Even though these ideas seem simple, the study found they are not always followed consistently. In busy clinics, where nurse practitioners manage a lot of pain care, it can be easy to miss a step.
One of the most important parts of the guidelines is continuous follow-up. Checking in with patients regularly helps ensure they’re using the medicine correctly and not becoming dependent on it.
The guidelines also encourage non-drug options like yoga, acupuncture, massage, water therapy, and heating pads—especially for patients with chronic pain. These methods can sometimes replace opioids entirely.
By following the CDC’s advice, nurse practitioners can better manage the risks of using high doses or long-term use of opioids. This can help reduce the chance of addiction and serious side effects.
The study was written by Dr. Winegar along with UTA nursing professors Dr. Zhaoli Liu and Dr. Tara Martin. Both Winegar and Liu continue to practice as nurse practitioners, giving them firsthand experience in applying these guidelines in real healthcare settings.
After reviewing the study, it’s clear that education and structured guidance are essential in the fight against the opioid epidemic. Nurse practitioners often serve as the first point of care for people with pain. By using the CDC’s step-by-step approach, they can protect their patients, reduce unnecessary opioid use, and help prevent future addiction.
This research reminds us that thoughtful prescribing and regular patient care can make a big difference. It also highlights the importance of looking beyond medication when managing pain. As the healthcare system continues to battle the opioid crisis, tools like the CDC guidelines will be key in creating a safer future.
If you care about pain, please read studies about how to manage your back pain, and Krill oil could improve muscle health in older people.
For more health information, please see recent studies about how to live pain-free with arthritis, and results showing common native American plant may help reduce diarrhea and pain.
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