Opioid Prescribing Restrictions And Addiction Rates

The use of opioids for acute pain has been a common practice among clinicians for decades.

Since the CDC updated its clinical practice guidelines for prescribing opioids in 2022, clinicians have been encouraged to prioritize non-opioid therapies before turning to opioid treatment.

Below, you can find more information on how these restrictions work, the results of opioid limitations, and why they are in place to begin with.

How Do Opioid Prescription Restrictions Work?

Restrictions on opioid prescribing have been around for years. Recently, however, the federal government has put forward new recommendations in an attempt to help avoid the harms of opioid use disorder.

Past Opioid Restrictions

The 2022 guidelines were the first revision to the CDC’s opioid prescribing recommendations since 2016. There are 12 recommendations in total, but the main point of the plan is to encourage doctors to try a non-opioid option first before turning to opioid therapy.

According to Dr. Samer Narouze, former president of ASRA Pain Medicine, this approach is different from past measures. Previous restrictions ordered providers to cut back on opioid prescription drugs without consideration.

Current CDC Opioid Prescribing Guidelines

The new document both outlines the dangers of opioid use disorder while also outlining their medical purpose, particularly for pain treatment.

For example, in instances where opioid therapy seems appropriate, the new recommendations say doctors should prescribe immediate-release pills rather than the long-acting option.

Another tool touted by the CDC is a prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP). A PDMP can help pharmacists identify people who may be misusing prescriptions and assist in preventing drug overdose.

Results Of Opioid Limitation Laws

Many doctors saw the 2016 recommendations and feared civil litigation, which led to them tapering patients off their pain medication too abruptly.

People in palliative care with severe pain due to cancer or sickle cell were outraged over the 2016 restrictions, as their long-term opioid use is a quality-of-life issue rather than a substance use disorder.

The 2022 overhaul of those guidelines has given doctors more latitude for when they can prescribe opioids. The changes also address when clinicians should apply nonpharmacologic therapies, such as acupuncture, physical therapy, or other non-opioid approaches, as part of a patient-centered pain management plan.

The full long-term impact of the 2022 clinical practice guidelines on opioid misuse and the overdose crisis is still being evaluated. However, primary care and public health professionals laud the changes as a step in the right direction.

It’s worth noting that opioid overdose deaths have declined significantly since the guidelines took effect. According to provisional CDC data, drug overdose deaths dropped nearly 27% in 2024, which is the largest single-year decline on record. That said, synthetic opioids like fentanyl remain the leading cause of overdose deaths.

Potential Risks Of Prescription Opioid Use Disorder

There are many different types of prescription opioids, but the side effects and risks associated with long-term opioid use disorder are the same.

Opioids may cause side effects such as nausea, mental fog, drowsiness, and, in more severe cases, slow breathing, which can result in an overdose death.

The most common types of opioid pain medication include:

• oxycodone (OxyContin)
• hydrocodone (Vicodin)
• morphine for pain management
• methadone
• synthetic opioids such as fentanyl

The prescribing of opioids can be a powerful tool to manage chronic pain, but when misused, they can pose serious risks to a person’s physical and mental health.

Find An Opioid Treatment Program

Treatment is the best long-term defense against opioid addiction, and there are a number of inpatient and outpatient options to help you recover.

Call our helpline to learn more about treatment for opioid use disorder, for help with insurance information, and more.