Publication Date
Fall 2025
Document Type
Poster
Primary Faculty (Chairperson)
Dr. Denise Ogorek
Secondary Faculty
Dr. Dawn Magee
Abstract
Background: There were nearly 645,000 deaths from 1991-2021 related to opioid overdose. Despite the U.S. representing only four percent of the global population, Americans consume 80% of the world’s opioids. Ten million Americans misuse opioid prescriptions, and this contributes to the thousands of annual deaths. Preventable mortality related to the opioid epidemic persists despite advancements in primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention efforts.
Purpose: The purpose of this evidence-based practice (EBP) project was to compare components of CDC’s (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) Clinical Practice Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Pain to current prescribing practices amid an ongoing opioid epidemic at an outpatient primary care clinic in rural Southern Oregon.
Methods: A retrospective review of de-identified data reports from January-December 2024 analyzed demographics of those with an opioid prescription and searched for evidence of a Narcan co-prescription. A chart review screened for evidence of non-opioid recommendations for pain management.
Findings: There were 60 prescriptions for those taking ≥ 50 morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs) per day for ≥ three months, and only 7% (n= 4) had a co-prescription of Narcan as recommended by CDC guidelines. The retrospective chart review demonstrated only 30% of those with high dose chronic opioid prescriptions had recommendations for behavioral health therapy, and only 26% had recommendations for massage, laser therapy, acupuncture, and/or yoga.
Conclusions: The findings from this EBP project will provide organizations with valuable EBP information about opioid, Narcan, and non-opioid treatments for pain.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Culp, Kayla, "An Evidence-Based Practice Review: Outpatient Opioid, Narcan, and Non-Opioid Treatments for Pain Management" (2025). Doctor of Nursing Practice. 9.
https://repository.gonzaga.edu/nursing_dnp/9
Research Paper