Patient education urged to prevent opioid overdose after sobriety

Education should be used to let patients in a prolonged period of sobriety know that opioid use can result in overdose and death

The American Medical Association (AMA) says education should be used to let patients in a prolonged period of sobriety know that opioid use can result in overdose and death. This is due to a reduced tolerance to opioids after a period of abstinence. The AMA House of Delegates are calling on the AMA to develop appropriate educational programs.

Physicians prescribing opioids know all to well the dangers involved. It will be interesting to see what the AMA develops. Until then, it makes sense for physicians to get as much education on opioid use to their patients as possible. ViewMedica has a set of opioid-related videos that subscribers to its On-Demand and VMcast waiting room TV services can use.