A new OPIATE (Optimizing Positive Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen Treatment Expectations) model: A brief comment on "Concurrent and lagged associations of prescription opioid use with pain and negative affect in the daily lives of chronic pain patients" (Carpenter, Lane, Bruehl, & Trull, 2019).

objectiveThis commentary expands upon the clinical implications arising from the Carpenter et al. (2019) negative reinforcement model of opioid use. A new model called OPIATE-which stands for Optimizing Positive Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen Treatment Expectations-is introduced. This commentary highlights possible strategies for reducing the supply and demand of opioids through enhancing expectations for alternative pain medications.

methodThis commentary features an integration of concepts from social psychology, cognitive psychology, and consumer psychology with empirical findings from observational studies and randomized trials of opioid and nonopioid medications.

resultsFour behavioral strategies are offered for potential enhancing expectations for ibuprofen and acetaminophen. These strategies are (a) altering defaults in electronic medical record systems; (b) highlighting appropriate descriptive social norms to patients; (c) improving the quality of interactions during discharges between patients and their physicians, nurses, and pharmacists; and (d) priming patients to have positive expectations regarding ibuprofen and acetaminophen involving careful selection of language to describe these medications.

conclusionsInstead of creating alternative pharmaceuticals, efforts to prevent opioid misuse may be more fruitful by focusing on behavioral change of prescribers and patients because viable medication options-namely ibuprofen and acetaminophen-already exist. Psychologists have an opportunity to play a leading role in evaluating behavioral strategies for increasing expectations for and use of nonopioid pain medications. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).