Factors to consider before prescribing opioids include the following: What conventional treatment practice is Whether other treatments are reasonable Whether the patient has an unusually high risk of adverse effects from an opioid Whether the patient is at risk of misuse, diversion, or abuse (aberrant drug-taking behaviors) If opioids are prescribed for chronic pain, physicians should take several steps: Provide education and counseling: Patients should be counseled about the risks of combining opioids with alcohol and anxiolytics and of self-adjusting dosing.