No one can deny the devastating effects that opioid abuse has taken on thousands of young people and communities across our country. No doubt too many people are using narcotics in ways never intended for these medications. The question is, how to determine an appropriate use of such drugs and when are they right to prescribe? This is an especially tricky balance for older adults whose pain and suffering often drastically curtail their independence and quality of life. If the right dosage of a pain medication can keep an older patient functioning in the community, shouldn’t that patient have access to the drug? That is a balancing act that geriatricians struggle with- and the answer very much depends on the circumstances of the senior and the training of the physician. Kaiser Health News has a new piece on this prescribing dilemma. Read It Here.