Acute Pain and Opioids: Insights from Dr Jane Quinlan at BPS 2025

30th Sep 2025

What have we learned from decades of opioid prescribing for acute pain—and where should we go next?

In her 2025 British Pain Society Lecture, Dr Jane Quinlan (Oxford) explored how well-intentioned practices shaped today’s challenges, from the influence of a five-sentence 1980 letter to the unintended consequences of “pain as the fifth vital sign.”

In this short overview video, Dr Quinlan shares her four key messages:

• Use opioids with care – and challenge misplaced reassurance.

• Pain scores are not the whole story – function matters more than numbers.

• Acute pain varies – one size does not fit all.

• We prescribe too much – leftover opioids in the community put patients at risk.

Looking ahead, she highlights practical steps for safer, more effective care: multimodal analgesia, functional scoring, rational prescribing, and smaller pack sizes.

Watch the video overview now and join the conversation about safer opioid use in acute pain.