Canadian Guideline: Try Non-Opioid Therapy First for Chronic Pain

A new medical treatment guideline from Canadian researchers is the latest to recommend non-drug and non-opioid therapies rather than opioids as the preferred treatment for chronic pain. The guideline was developed by an international team of clinicians, researchers and patients, led by the Michael G. DeGroote National Pain Centre at McMaster University. Development of the guideline was funded by Health Canada and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. The guideline was published by the Canadian Medical Association Journal. The guideline focuses on the use of opioids in treating chr...