Chronic pain

The Opioid Risk Tool (ORT) assesses risk factors. It is available in English, French, Portuguese and Farsi (Persian).

Collège des médecins du Québec

In these guidelines, the Collège des médecins du Québec provides a reference framework for physicians who administer opioids to patients with chronic non-cancer pain, especially pain that does not respond to the usual treatment options.

Canadian Guideline for Safe and Effective Use of Opioids for Chronic Non-Cancer Pain (National Opioid Use Guideline Group – NOUGG) 

Created in 2007, the Guideline Group is a collaboration of provincial and territorial medical regulatory authorities under the umbrella of the Federation of Medical Regulatory Authorities of Canada. The guideline on the use of opioids for the treatment of chronic non-cancer pain is currently being updated under the stewardship of the National Pain Centre at McMaster University in Hamilton.

Four networks are affiliated with Université Laval, McGill University, the Université de Montréal and the Université de Sherbrooke, respectively. The integrated university health networks were created to promote collaboration, complementarity and the integration of the health care, teaching and research missions of health institutions with a university designation and the universities they are affiliated with.

Washington State Agency Medical Directors’ Group (AMDG)

This guideline is designed as an easy-to-use reference for primary care clinicians. Each section includes a list of clinical recommendations supported by scientific evidence. A number of resources are provided in the appendices.

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Government of Nova Scotia, Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse (CCSA)

This site provides access to extensive information on provincial guidelines on methadone maintenance treatment programs, withdrawal management, prescription drug misuse and other opioid use disorders, and pain relief.

American Society of Addiction Medicine: National Practice Guideline for the Use of Medications in the Treatment of Addiction Involving Opioid Use

This guideline was developed to provide information on evidence-based treatment of opioid use disorder for clinicians who prescribe pharmacotherapy.