The increasing use of opioids in the management of chronic non-cancer pain has been accompanied by a rise in opioid-related harm (including deaths). A very useful pharmacist framework for implementation of the Canadian guideline for opioids for chronic non-cancer pain has recently been published, and the recommendations have been classified into those with strong evidence “all or almost all individuals should receive the intervention. Formal decision aids are not likely to be needed to help individual patients make decisions consistent with their values and
preferences” or supported by weaker evidence “recognize that different choices will be appropriate for individual patients and that clinicians must
help each patient arrive at a management decision consistent with his or her values and preferences. Decision aids may be useful in helping individuals to make decisions.” Other jurisdictions would be well-advised to emulate or adopt these excellent guidelines, which may be viewed here
