Controlled Substances: A Prescription for Risk Mitigation

Chronic pain affects one in five adults in the U.S., leading many to seek medical care.While opioids are not recommended as the first-line treatment, they are prescribed for various types of pain, albeit with risks.Other conditions leading to controlled substance prescriptions include anxiety, insomnia, fatigue, seizures, alcohol withdrawal, obesity, and ADHD.These substances, such as opioids, benzodiazepines, and stimulants, carry risks of abuse, misuse, addiction, and overdose.A 2023 survey revealed prescription pain medication as the most misused drug among people aged 12 and up.Overdose deaths involving synthetic opioids declined between 2022 and 2023, while deaths from psychostimulants and cocaine rose.Risk mitigation is crucial in patient-centered care to ensure informed and evidence-based decisions when prescribing controlled medications.This article reviews guidelines and strategies for prescribing opioids, stimulants, and benzodiazepines, and examines the current state of the overdose epidemic.