Press Release

Statement on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Opioid Prescribing Guidelines

Rick Pollack

President and CEO

American Hospital Association

March 15, 2016

Too many families have experienced devastating loss due to a loved one’s addiction to opioids. That’s why the need for sound clinical guidance is urgent and we appreciate the CDC’s leadership on this critical public health issue. The more we can do at every turn to help patients with safe, effective pain management – which could include the proper use of opioids – the better we can stem the tide of the opioid abuse epidemic. The AHA strongly supports this new guidance and will share it with all hospitals to ensure appropriate strategies are used to help manage pain and minimize the risk of addiction.

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About the AHA

The AHA is a not-for-profit association of health care provider organizations and individuals that are committed to the health improvement of their communities. The AHA is the national advocate for its members, which include nearly 5,000 hospitals, health care systems, networks, other providers of care and 43,000 individual members. Founded in 1898, the AHA provides education for health care leaders and is a source of information on health care issues and trends. For more information, visit the AHA website at www.aha.org.