AVMA working group helps navigate opioid abuse epidemic

An AVMA working group has taken up the task of providing needed information to help veterinary professionals contribute productively to the national response to human opioid addiction. Veterinarians prescribe or dispense opioids for very limited uses, and do so relatively infrequently; however, it is critical for certain animals to receive these medications. Opioids are used primarily to treat pain in veterinary medicine and are an important tool for veterinarians because they can be used with minimal risks to very sick patients.Just like everyone else, veterinarians are very concerned about the human opioid drug crisis. Though our animal patients are not the ones struggling with opioid addiction, the practices we already follow when it comes to the responsible use of opioids  help us address opioid abuse in humans. These thoughtful steps include meticulous record-keeping and control of opioids, as well as a multi-modal approach to patient care that uses not only pharmaceuticals, but also other interventions to effectively manage pain.