HHS last week released a guide outlining the steps clinicians should take to taper patients off of opioid prescriptions without causing patients harm. Brett Giroir, HHS’ assistant secretary for health, said the guidelines reflect “a very large body of data across the scientific and medical literature that would say that abrupt discontinuation or abrupt reduction in [opioid] dosage can be harmful to patients.” (Source: STAT News, 10/10)
