Stefan Kertesz, professor of Medicine and Public Health and a CAPPI Center affiliate member, spoke to reporters from Kaiser Health News on whether changes in the CDC's new opioid prescribing guideline will protect patients who suffered adversely in the wake of the 2016 guideline. As noted in the article first reported by Kaiser Health News and published by NBC, many patients with long-term pain can no longer find any doctor. Dr. Kertesz credits the CDC for seeking "“an extraordinary amount of input” from patients in developing the 2022 revision. However, he doubts it will have impact unless both the US Drug Enforcement Agency and the Food and Drug Administration alter course. Dr. Kertesz currently leads a study to understand suicides that happen after prescription opioids are stopped.
Stefan Kertesz, professor of Medicine and Public Health and a CAPPI Center affiliate member.