American Cancer Society Survey Finds Patients With Cancer Have Difficulty Accessing Opioids for Pain Relief

According to a nationwide survey by the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network and the Patient Quality of Life Coalition, patients with cancer report finding it more difficult to receive opioids due to the recent opioid epidemic and new policies that have been introduced to combat the issue. 

The survey included 300 patients with cancer who currently take or have taken opioids, as well as 150 patients with other serious illnesses and 155 patients with chronic pain. While the same number of patients with cancer report taking opioids between 2016 and 2018 (43%), fewer cancer survivors take opioids currently (10% in 2018 vs. 24% in 2016). 

Forty-one percent of patients with cancer and cancer survivors said they could not get an opioid because the pharmacy did not have the drug in stock compared with 16% who reported that problem in 2016. Twenty-seven percent said the pharmacist would not fill the prescription even if it was in stock compared with 15% in 2016. In addition, one-third of respondents said their insurer would not cover their opioid prescription, which represented a 19% increase from two years ago. 

The patient advocacy group said the survey shows that some policies may have an adverse effect on patients who need the medications. 

Source: American Cancer Society