Ethics of Narcotic Pain Management in Substance Use Disorder Recovery

Pain management in recovering substance use disorder populations can result in an ethical dilemma for primary care nurse practitioners when evaluating the use of narcotic pain management. On weighing the competing ethical principles of beneficence and nonmaleficence, ethical narcotic pain management is attainable in recovering substance use disorder. Clinical management approaches that include ethical principles are suggested for the primary care nurse practitioner. •An ethical dilemma can result in pain management in substance use disorder recovery.•Defines ethical principles involved in pain management.•Weighs competing ethical principles of beneficence and nonmaleficence.•Outlines overriding ethical principle considered in pain management in substance use disorder recovery.•Recommends current guidelines to consider for ethical pain management.