The purpose of these guidelines is to lay the groundwork for increased safe opioid prescribing practices throughout the local healthcare system in the hope of promoting better patient care and a happier and healthier community. The message embodied in these guidelines is that opioids are powerful drugs that can create calm and relief when used wisely but can simultaneously cause great harm when prescribed injudiciously. Every encounter with a patient in pain will require the same analysis, and patient safety should guide all treatment recommendations.