The Collaborative for Effective Prescription Opioid Policies was formed with the following principles in mind:

  • Prescription drug diversion, abuse, and overdose have created a public health crisis even while chronic pain remains a daily challenge for many Americans;
  • The collaborative believes that by working together on these issues, unintended harms can be avoided and the health and well-being of all Americans advanced;
  • Many of the policy responses are known across abuse and addiction prevention and advanced pain care stakeholders. We believe that there is benefit to all in developing a comprehensive and balanced policy strategy to effectively address these challenges;
  • All types of stakeholders must be engaged — from manufacturers and distributors to prescribing physicians, treatment providers, public health, payers, public safety, people living with these problems and their family members and patient advocates – in a visible and sustained effort that demonstrates shared commitment;
  • The policy solutions are interrelated and should be carried out in unison to effectively address the abuse problem while ensuring patient and provider access to necessary pain medications;
  • The value of this initiative is to generate public policy outcomes that reduce addiction, save lives, and enable appropriate treatments for those who struggle with addiction and those who live with chronic pain.