PHM-07 - Opioid Stewardship in the Cancer Setting: A Call for Vigilance and Safety

In the midst of an opioid epidemic, opioid stewardship is a key element in mitigating the risk of opioid misuse. Regulatory bodies are now requiring inpatient institutions to implement some sort of an opioid stewardship program. Unfortunately, cancer institutions are exempt from such regulations although they are the highest prescribers of opioid analgesics. Despite the lack of regulations, opioid stewardship continues to serve as a vital tool for opioid prescribing in the cancer setting. This presentation will discuss the inception of an opioid stewardship program within a academic cancer institution as well as the roles each member of the opioid stewardship serves. Additionally, this presentation will give difficult case samples of how implementing opioid stewardship in a cancer setting can safely impact both the patient and healthcare team.