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Living Systematic Review on Cannabis and Other Plant-Based Treatments for Chronic Pain

Living Systematic Review on Cannabis and Other Plant-Based Treatments for Chronic Pain

Introduction

In an effort to address the opioid epidemic, a prominent goal of current research is to identify alternative treatments with equal or better benefits for pain while avoiding potential unintended consequences that could result in harms.

A systematic review assessing the effectiveness and harms of plant-based treatments for chronic pain conditions is underway. The review will be "living" in the sense that it will identify and synthesize recently published literature on an ongoing basis. For the purposes of this review, plant-based compounds (PBCs) included are those that are similar to opioids in effect and that have the potential for addiction, misuse, and serious adverse effects; other PBCs such as herbal treatments are not included. The intended audience includes policy and decision makers, funders and researchers of treatments for chronic pain, and clinicians who treat chronic pain.

The quarterly progress reports present the accumulating evidence and are updated on a regular basis. They include a description of the available studies and an appraisal of study quality. 

January 2021 Update

Overview

This is the first progress report for an ongoing living systematic review on plant-based treatments for chronic pain. The systematic review will synthesize evidence on the benefits and harms of plant-based compounds (PBCs) such as cannabinoids and kratom used to treat chronic pain, addressing concerns about severe adverse effects, abuse, misuse, dependence, and addiction.

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#TakeBackDay this Saturday October 24th

The DEA’s Take Back Day events provide an opportunity for Americans to prevent drug addiction and overdose deaths. Encourage the gathering of unused, unwanted, or expired prescription drugs to dispose of safely during the upcoming event.

When: Saturday, October 24, 2020 – 10 AM to 2 PM

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CDC & HHS Request for Comment Management of Acute and Chronic Pain

CDC & HHS Request for Comment Management of Acute and Chronic Pain

It is vitally important for the members of the Texas Pain Society to submit comments to CDC & HHS by June 16, 2020.

You can use the TPS template letter here

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announces the opening of a docket to obtain comment concerning perspectives on and experiences with pain and pain management, including but not limited to the benefits and harms of opioid use, from patients with acute or chronic pain, patients' family members and/or caregivers, and health care providers who care for patients with pain or conditions that can complicate pain management (e.g., opioid use disorder or overdose)—hereafter called “stakeholders.” CDC will use these comments to inform its understanding of stakeholders' values and preferences related to pain and pain management options.
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2020/04/17/2020-08127/management-of-acute-and-chronic-pain-request-for-comment?deliveryName=Share%20Your%20Perspective%3A%20Management%20of%20Acute%20and%20Chronic%20Pain%20%28US&cid=em1003562&utm_source=sfmc_email&utm_medium=email-1st_party&utm_campaign=nmd-general-us-pain_medicine-general&utm_content=n-n-n-n&sid=0032K00002O0WULQA3&id_mc=552681762

Health Care Professionals and Facilities, Including Abortion Providers, Must Immediately Stop All Medically Unnecessary Surgeries and Procedures to Preserve Resources to Fight COVID-19 Pandemic

Texas Attorney General, Ken Paxton

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 23, 2020

www.texasattorneygeneral.gov

Health Care Professionals and Facilities, Including Abortion Providers,

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DEA Okays Telehealth to Prescribe Opioids Amid COVID-19 Emergency

The move to telehealth will make it easier for providers to prescribe an opioid or other controlled substance during the COVID-19 public health emergency.

telehealth prescribing of controlled substances

March 18, 2020 - Telemedicine has found yet another key purpose during the coronavirus public health emergency: the prescribing of controlled substances, such as opioids.

Per new clarification from the US Department of Justice Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), healthcare professionals can now prescribe a controlled substance to a patient using telehealth technology.

This announcement comes in the wake of the public health emergency declared by HHS Secretary Alex Azar on January 31, 2020.

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TMB Waiver for Chronic Pain Patients Granted by Governor Abbott

Texas Medical Board Press Release

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 19, 2020

Media contact: Jarrett Schneider, 512-305-7018

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Addiction Medicine Fellowship Program

hrsa health workforce

Addiction Medicine Fellowship (AMF) Program

NOTICE OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY (HRSA-20-013)
Fiscal Year 2020 Application Due Date: February 25, 2020

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is accepting applications for the fiscal year 2020 Addiction Medicine Fellowship (AMF) Program. The application cycle closes on February 25, 2020.

Please note that modifications have been made to the original Notice of Funding Opportunity. Download the latest version before applying.

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DWC Finalizes the Medical Quality Review CY 2020 Annual Audit Plan

Division of Workers' Compensation banner

DWC Finalizes the Medical Quality Review CY 2020 Annual Audit Plan

On November 4, 2019, the Division of Workers’ Compensation solicited input for the 2020 Medical Quality Review Annual Audit Plan (Annual Plan); specifically, input regarding the proposal for categories within the Annual Plan.

The Annual Plan sets the priorities for the medical quality review audits during the upcoming year. This includes the scope, methodology, selection criteria, and program area responsibilities described in the Medical Quality Review Process .

More information about the Annual Plan is on the TDI website.

FindTreatment.gov is a pragmatic step in fight against opioids

The Trump administration has launched a smart new salvo in the public health offensive against the opioid epidemic.

Addiction to these prescription painkillers and related street drugs continues to wreak havoc in communities across the nation. Last week, the White House announced the launch of a new website that will make it easier to find specialized medical care close to home.

This confidential, easy-to-use resource has a name succinctly summing up its mission — FindTreatment.gov. It also allows individuals to customize their search results beyond location, a feature that existing “find a substance abuse provider” websites often don’t offer.

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Attorney General Ken Paxton Issues Statement on Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Filing of Purdue Pharma

 

Attorney General Ken Paxton Issues Statement on Chapter 11

Bankruptcy Filing of Purdue Pharma

 

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Prescription Drug Use Among Adults Aged 40–79 in the United States and Canada

This is the National Center for Health Statistics/CDC/HHS logo

Key findings

Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and the Canadian Health Measures Survey

  • Nearly 7 in 10 adults aged 40–79 used at least 1 prescription drug in the past 30 days in the United States (69.0%) and Canada (65.5%), and around 1 in 5 used at least 5 prescription drugs (22.4% in the United States and 18.8% in Canada).
  • Among adults aged 40–59, the most commonly used drug types in the United States were antidepressants, lipid-lowering drugs, and ACE inhibitors; in Canada, they were analgesics, antidepressants, and lipid-lowering drugs.
  • Among adults aged 60–79, the most commonly used drug types in the United States were lipid-lowering drugs, antidiabetic agents, and beta blockers; in Canada, they were lipid-lowering drugs, analgesics, and proton pump inhibitors.

Patterns of prescription drug use may reflect underlying patterns of health conditions and health care access in the population. Polypharmacy, often defined as the simultaneous use of five or more prescription drugs, is more common in an aging population where multiple coexisting chronic conditions often occur; however, safety concerns may arise (1). The United States and Canada share many cultural and historical ties, but with different models for health care delivery (2). This report describes the use of one or more and five or more prescription drugs among adults aged 40–79 in the United States and Canada.

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Keep enforcing marijuana laws, Abbott, Patrick, Bonnen, Paxton tell prosecutors amid hemp law confusion

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AUSTIN -- State GOP leaders have told local prosecutors not to abandon prosecution of marijuana-possession cases because of recently passed legislation legalizing hemp.

In a joint letter to district and county attorneys, Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Speaker Dennis Bonnen and Attorney General Ken Paxton emphasized Thursday that "marijuana has not been decriminalized in Texas." Prosecutors should not toss low-level marijuana cases, they said. In fact, the new hemp legislation gives law enforcement a new tool in pressing cases for marijuana possession, the leaders said.

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Governor Abbott Signs Opioid Legislation

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TexMed 2019 Pain Lectures

TexMed 2019 - Texas Pain Society - Pain Lectures Success!

Many thanks to Drs. Tim Zoys & C.M. Schade for co-chairing the 2019 Texas Pain Society Program! Thank you to our amazing speakers for their time and energy and expertise to educate attendees about the most current standards for pain management. Each year this program continues to grow and attract more and more attendees, this year was another full room with over 140 attendees! 

                    

Primary Care Pain Medicine: State-of-the-Art 2019 
Presented by Brian Bruel, MD, Director, Pain Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston

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Pain Management Task Force Issues Final Report on Best Practices for Treatment of Pain

Pain Management Task Force Issues Final Report on Best Practices for Treatment of Pain

The Pain Management Best Practices Inter-Agency Task Force, a federal advisory committee established by the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016 - PDF, today released its final report on acute and chronic pain management best practices, calling for a balanced, individualized, patient-centered approach.

To ensure best practices for the treatment of pain, the Task Force final report underscores the need to address stigma, risk assessment, access to care and education. It also highlights five broad categories for pain treatment: medications, interventional procedures, restorative therapies, behavioral health, and complementary and integrative health approaches.

“There is a no one-size-fits-all approach when treating and managing patients with painful conditions,” said Vanila M. Singh, M.D., MACM, Task Force chair, and chief medical officer of the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health. “Individuals who live with pain are suffering and need compassionate, individualized and effective approaches to improving pain and clinical outcomes. This report is a roadmap that is desperately needed to treat our nation’s pain crisis.”

The Task Force was created in the midst of a national opioid epidemic, but also at a time when an estimated 50 million adults in the United States experience chronic daily pain. As such, the report emphasizes safe opioid stewardship by recommending more time for history-taking, screening tools, lab tests, and clinician time with patients to establish a therapeutic alliance and to set clear goals for improved functionality, quality of life, and activities of daily living.  Medication disposal and safe medication storage are also emphasized for patient safety.

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Patient-Centered Care Is Key to Best Practices in Pain Management

Patient-Centered Care Is Key to Best Practices in Pain Management

Summary: Dr. Vanila Singh explains the work of the Pain Management Best Practices Inter-Agency Task Force.


 

On May 10, the Pain Management Best Practices Inter-Agency Task Force voted on its final recommendations, which emphasize the importance of providing balanced, individualized, patient-centered pain management to ensure better clinical outcomes for pain that improve quality of life and functionality for patients. The group recommended a broad framework of approaches for treating acute and chronic pain. Following is an interview with Dr. Vanila Singh on the task force’s work.

Q: Dr. Singh, the Pain Management Best Practices Inter-Agency Task Force, a federal advisory committee that you chaired, just voted on final recommendations for pain management best practices. What was the Task Force's charge?
A: We were charged by section 101 of the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016 (CARA) - PDF to propose updates to best practices and issue recommendations that address gaps or inconsistencies for managing chronic and acute pain.

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