ASA participates in government-led effort to address opioid epidemic

Today, the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) announced their participation in a government-led effort to address the opioid epidemic, part of ASA's continued focus on patient safety and ongoing work to promote the safe use of prescription opioids. ASA is joined by a number of public and private sector partners in the efforts, which are being announced today by President Obama in Charleston, West Virginia.

ASA is one of more than 40 provider groups, including physicians, dentists, advanced practice registered nurses, physician assistants, physician therapists and educators that have committed to increase awareness of prescription drug abuse, appropriate prescribing practices and actions providers can take to be a part of the solution.

"The growing opioid abuse epidemic around the country continues to be a concern to physician anesthesiologists and our patients," said ASA President J.P. Abenstein, M.S.E.E., M.D. "As leaders in patient safety, we are proud to join this partnership as we continue our work to encourage physicians to register and use prescription drug monitoring programs; enhance physicians' education on effective, evidence-based prescribing of opioids; and encourage physicians to consider co-prescribing naloxone. ASA has long been a supporter of efforts to reduce the misuse, abuse and diversion of prescription drugs, and we applaud the President for raising awareness of this health issue and making safe use of prescription opioids a priority for his administration."

In 2013, ASA worked with the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy to develop an informational card that provides easy-to-understand lifesaving techniques to help friends and family save someone suspected of an opioid overdose. As part of this effort, the informational card created by ASA will be distributed by the Fraternal Order of Police to its 330,000 members.