In collaboration with colleagues from NHS Scotland, academia and individuals with lived experience, Scottish Government has developed a draft clinical Guide for Opioid Prescribing for Chronic Pain. This resource focuses on delivery of safe person centred care through promoting safe prescribing and practical review of opioids to ensure their effective use in clinical practice and prevent addiction and dependence. The guide also aims to promote shared decision making using the 7 step medicine review model, self-management and non-pharmaceutical treatment of chronic pain, in order for patients to be involved in all steps of their treatment.
In addition to the clinical guide, we have also worked in partnership with Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland to develop a patient friendly version of the guide and have made that available here.