Commentary|Articles|March 27, 2026

CDC Opioid Guidelines at 10: Impact, Misuse, and Lessons: Michael Lynch, MD

Author(s)Sabrina McCrear, Michael Lynch, MD

A decade after the CDC opioid guidelines, Michael Lynch, MD, examines misapplication, fentanyl’s role, and evolving pain management strategies.

The CDC’s Clinical Practice Guidelines for Prescribing Opioids for Pain are 10 years old this March. Originally published in 2016 and then updated in 2022, the guidelines aimed to reduce opioid prescription overdoses with suggestions on necessity, dosage, and monitoring.¹