Pain Contracts

"Another control strategy that has gained traction is opioid 'contracts' or 'treatment agreements' between health care providers and patients, under which medication use by highrisk patients is closely monitored. In a study of a primary are clinic’s use of such contracts, three-fifths of patients adhered to the agreement (with a median follow-up of 23 months) (Hariharan et al., 2006). However, many pain experts have concluded that pain agreements/contracts do not necessarily improve the treatment of pain or minimize diversion and abuse of prescription drugs, particularly when used indiscriminately. A systematic review of the literature found only weak evidence to support either pain contracts or urine tests as a strategy for reducing opioid abuse (Starrels et al., 2010)."