Management of Chronic Pain in Adults Living With Sickle Cell Disease in the Era of the Opioid Epidemic

Key Points Question Are concerns about the opioid epidemic in the United States and the heightened oversight and restrictions on prescribing opioids associated with changes in the management of acute and chronic pain for patients with sickle cell disease? Findings This qualitative study interviewed 15 adults with sickle cell disease. Participants reported that they face increased barriers to the use of opioids for pain management, that their physicians exclusively focus on opioid dosage without establishing a multimodality pain management plan, and that they lack access to nonopioid therapies. Meaning Adult patients with sickle cell disease should be included in establishing goals for managing pain and improving functionality using multimodality approaches.