To combat the U.S. opioid crisis, anesthesiologists should lead efforts to provide opioid-free anesthesia, according to a Nov. 23 blog post from Anesthesia Business Consultants.
At least 128 Americans die everyday of opioid-related overdoses, and opioid abuse remains a pressing issue.
To support people addicted to opiods, the government is focusing on five areas:
- Improving access to treatment and recovery services
- Promoting the use of overdose-reversing drugs
- Enhancing understanding of the crisis
- Providing support for pain and addiction research
- Advancing strategies around the management of chronic pain
The American Society of Anesthesiologists has also made combating opioid-abuse one if its key focuses.
ABC President and CEO Tony MIra wrote: "The morbidity and mortality metrics of American anesthesia are so good that we tend to take quality anesthesia care for granted. As a result, the specialty is always striving to make the public aware of its value proposition. Playing a key role in addressing the opioid crisis could prove to be just such an opportunity."