CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain — United States, 2016

cognitive impairment, and those with cancer and at the end of life, can be at risk for inadequate pain treatment (4).Patients can experience persistent pain that is not well controlled.There are clinical, psychological, and social consequences associated with chronic pain including limitations in complex activities, lost work productivity, reduced quality of life, and stigma, emphasizing the importance of appropriate and compassionate patient care (4).Patients should receive appropriate pain treatment based on a careful consideration of the benefits and risks of treatment options.Chronic pain has been variably defined but is defined within this guideline as pain that typically lasts >3 months or past the time of normal tissue healing (5).Chronic pain can be the result of an underlying medical disease or condition, injury, medical treatment, inflammation, or an unknown cause (4).Estimates of the prevalence of chronic pain vary, but it is clear that the number of persons experiencing chronic pain in the United States is substantial.The 1999-2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey estimated that 14.6% of adults have current widespread or localized pain lasting at least 3 months (6).Based on a survey conducted during 2001-2003 (7), the overall prevalence of common, predominantly musculoskeletal pain conditions (e.g., arthritis, rheumatism, chronic back or neck problems, and frequent severe headaches) was estimated at 43% among adults in the