Centering the patient in decisions about opioid tapering.

This article discusses the importance of centering the patient in decisions about opioid tapering. The author reflects on the historical context of opioid prescribing, highlighting how drug manufacturers influenced medical education and the subsequent rise of the opioid overdose epidemic. The article emphasizes the need for clinicians to consider the competing risks of opioid continuation versus tapering and to involve patients in decision-making. It also addresses the challenges of patient-provider relationships and provides guidance on how to approach conversations about tapering. The article concludes by emphasizing the individualized nature of these decisions and the importance of aligning them with the patient's values and preferences. [Extracted from the article]