Letters | Correspondance 536 Canadian Family Physician • Le Médecin de famille canadien | Vol 57: MAy • MAi 2011 by the Nova Scotia Chronic Pain Collaborative Care

Network. It is possible that some of the physicians in this study have developed an interest in assisting people with pain and are prescribing appropriately according to the guidelines available. Opioids are a key treatment for moderate to severe pain. There is little argument that they are appropriate in acute and cancer pain. There is evidence that opioids exhibit efficacy in some people with chronic pain.5,6 This study did not collect data that allowed for an assess-ment of appropriateness of prescribing and therefore should not make suggestions to decrease opioid pre-scribing or to increase regulatory scrutiny, as this might have an adverse effect on the quality of life of many people living with pain. There is a substantial problem with access to appropriate treatment for people wit