CHAMMP has initiated a series of projects directed at making and impact on reducing the prevalence, severity and adverse consequence of prescription opioid abuse.
An Initiative to Reduce the Prevalence, Severity, and Adverse Consequences of Prescription Opioid Abuse, Misuse and Ineffective Use in Disadvantaged Patients with Co-Morbid Conditions Involving Addiction, Mental Illness and Medical Vulnerabilities
The issue of chronic pain and opioid use has received widespread concern due to the increased use of opioids, the well-documented co-morbidity of non-cancer pain conditions with mental health and substance abuse disorders, the potential for addiction, and the growing number of deaths associated with prescription opioid use. Sullivan and colleagues* have pointed out that benefits of opioids are least established in the population with co-morbidities that involve non-cancer pain conditions, mental illness, and/or addictions, since such individuals have often been excluded from randomized trials. Yet, this group is more likely to be prescribed long-term opioid therapy. In addition, the vulnerability to opioid medication addiction is highest in this population
*Edlund, M. J., Martin, B. C., Devries, A., Fan, M., Braden, J. B., & Sullivan, M. D. (2009). Trends in use of opioids for chronic non-cancer pain among individuals with mental health and substance use disorders: the TROUP study. Unpublished manuscript.
Purpose of the Initiative
In response to this widespread concern and, in particular, the dearth of information about prescription opioid abuse among disadvantaged individuals with co-morbid chronic pain conditions, the Center for Health Care Improvement for Addictions, Mental Illness and Medically Vulnerable Populations (CHAMMP) at Harborview Medical Center (HMC) has initiated a series of projects directed at making an impact on reducing the prevalence, severity, and adverse consequence of prescription opioid abuse. These projects are being designed and implemented by a collaborative group with expertise in various aspects of pain, opioids, addiction, mental health, and public policy. CHAMMP is providing the infrastructure and modest resources to develop and carry out the projects.
Our goal is to make an impact in a measurable and clinically significant way on the prevalence, severity and functional consequences (e.g. lost work productivity, deterioration of family and personal relationships, potential deaths through intentional and unintentional overdoses, and increased health care costs and utilization) of prescription opioid abuse. With prescription opioids, much of the harm to vulnerable patients may be iatrogenic. This adds to the urgency of our efforts. Learn more about current projects.