Anticipated and unanticipated consequences of abuse deterrent formulations of opioid analgesics

This is an important nding, despitesome aws in the study, which raises important publichealth concerns. In this context, some history for thosenot well-versed in the current epidemic of prescriptionopioid abuse might be helpful.The abuse problemhas its roots in two major devel-opments in the 1990s. The rst was a recommenda-tion from the Joint Commission on Accreditation ofHealthcare Organizations, which emphasized thatpain should be treated as the fth vital sign, andaccordingly, there should be less trepidation aboutusing potent opioids to relieve pain.