Opioid use disorder has risen to epidemic proportions in the United States at an alarming rate in the past decade and is considered a leading public health concern. Women have a higher rate of acute and chronic pain conditions and are more likely to be prescribed opioids for pain management. The disproportionate incidence of opioid use, misuse, and progression to heroin and injectable drug use among reproductive age women is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Of particular concern are the unique health risks opioid-dependent women face including immune system alterations, endocrinopathies, diminished fertility, psychosocial isolation, interpersonal violence, and unintentional overdose. Opioid use in pregnancy is associated with negative maternal and neonatal consequences and requires comprehensive, multidisciplinary services for the co-occurring medical, mental health, infectious disease, social stressors, and legal issues. Neonatal abstinence syndrome is linked to a cluster of physiological withdrawal symptoms and considered the primary adverse outcome of opioid exposure in newborns. Maternal medication-assisted treatment with methadone or buprenorphine to decrease the negative effects of neonatal withdrawal is the standard of care for opioid use disorders in pregnancy. The complexity of services required for maternal opioid use disorders requires collaborative and multidisciplinary management strategies to optimize maternal and neonatal outcomes.

Robert Jones, a 42-year-old male, has been under medical management for chronic low back pain (CLBP) for the past 9 months. His rehabilitation program consists of weekly physiotherapy treatments along with medication therapies including a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) and prescription opioid. Robert has missed his last three rehabilitation therapy sessions, and he presents to the clinic today with no appointment demanding to be seen by the nurse practitioner for an escalation in CLBP symptoms.When questioned about his missed rehabilitation therapy appointments, his anxious demeanor quickly demonstrates irritability. He states, "The only thing that helps my pain is the Percocet pills. The rehab and ibuprofen are a waste of time." He adds, "My family doctor doesn't know how to treat my pain so I need you to refill my Percocet prescription."

In the elderly, Potentially Inappropriate Prescriptions (PIPs) are quite common and connected with adverse drug events (ADEs), hospital stays, increased medical acuities, and inefficacious healthcare. Benzodiazepines as a class have been identified as an independent risk factor for ADE's and shown to be associated with sedation and impairments in cognition, memory, and balance, lending to an increased risk for falls. Clinically inappropriate medications continue to be prescribed and preferred by many clinicians over non-pharmacological strategies despite continued evidence demonstrating poor outcomes in older adults. Due to the increasing evidence in positive elderly outcomes through the reduction in use of inappropriate drugs, medication reduction strategies are now required policy components in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regulations along with Medicare Part D. Quality measures now focus on extensive drug reviews with reduction strategies that incorporate use of: the Beers Criteria; multidisciplinary approaches; involving patients and caregivers; and de-prescribing strategies. Case StudyEdna Smith is a 68-year-old female who presents to clinic for poststroke rehabilitation follow-up. She initially received physiotherapy treatments including activities focused on strengthening motor skills, mobility training, constraint-induced therapy, and range of motion therapy three times weekly for 4 months. Due to improvements in physical functioning, her treatment frequency was reduced to twice weekly 12 weeks ago and once weekly 1 month ago. At her last visit, she was ambulating without assistance or noticeable deficits.At this visit, Ms. Smith and her husband report new concerns. In recent weeks Ms. Smith has experienced intermittent and increasing occurrences of disorientation, poor balance, and several falls. She reports her Primary Care Provider (PCP) initiated lorazepam therapy approximately 6 weeks ago for complaint of insomnia.

Gabapentin was first approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 1993 as an adjunct treatment of epilepsy. In 2004, an additional indication of pain associated with post-herpetic neuralgia was added. Misuse of gabapentinoids dates back to 2010 while surging recently to the tenth most commonly prescribed medication in 2016. Abuse can be as high as 65% for even those who legally obtained the medication through a prescription. It is used off-label up to 95% of the time despite limited evidence of its efficacy particularly with multiple pain types. The surge in misuse can be attributed not only to off-label use but also an assumption of no abuse potential coupled with clinicians seeking alternative treatment options to the opioids. More common side-effects include sedation, dizziness, and cognitive difficulties. However, even normal dosing can produce side-effects similar to other addictive substances including: euphoria, talkativeness, and increased energy (opioids); sedation (opioids, benzodiazepines); and dissociation (hallucinogens). In fact, a few states including Kentucky, Ohio, and West Virginia will or have already added gabapentin to the controlled substance rosters even though no federal designation is in place. Identified risks for gabapentin misuse in the literature are limited with the exception of a history of or current substance abuse, particularly opioids. Unfortunately, gabapentin is often co-prescribed with opioids lending to a heightened risk of opioid-related mortality. Clinicians must understand that gabapentin is not effective for a variety of pain conditions nor is a routine substitute for opioids. In addition, close monitoring practices often associated with opioids and benzodiazepines (i.e., regular monitoring for aberrant drug taking behaviors, limits on supply, guarded dose titration) should be applied to that of gabapentin.

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