How State Health Departments Can Reduce Stigma to Improve Care for Patients Taking Long-Term Opioid Therapy
January 02, 2024 | Grace DeLeon, Richa Ranade, Jessica Pough
Long-term opioid therapy (LTOT)—often prescribed for chronic pain when other options have proven ineffective—is associated with negative perceptions due to the history of widespread opioid overprescription and the current overdose crisis. This stigma poses a barrier to care continuity for these patients, which is particularly concerning, as abruptly discontinuing such medication can lead to adverse health effects due to physical dependency.
This resource aims to assist state and territorial health departments in mitigating stigma affecting patients already on LTOT for chronic pain, emphasizing the importance of care continuity to prevent serious health risks associated with abrupt medication discontinuation.