Early opioid use refers to managing chronic pain by using opioids to treat levels of pain lower than the levels the World Health Organization’s (WHO's) three-step pain relief ladder specifies for treating with opioids. The WHO suggests beginning treatment at step 1, using nonopioids with or without adjuvant medication, and moving to step 2, using weak opioids, if pain persists. If pain persists with step 2 treatment, step 3 involves using strong opioids with or without adjuvant treatment. Researchers have evaluated early use of opioids for effectiveness in patients with chronic cancer-related pain.