Prescription Painkiller Misuse Widespread in Chronic Pain Patients
A new scientific review of 148 studies enrolling over 4.3 million adult chronic pain patients treated with prescription opioid painkillers has found that nearly one in ten patients experiences opioid dependence or opioid use disorder and nearly one in three shows symptoms of dependence and opioid use disorder. The researchers divided the 148 studies into four general categories, depending on how the studies defined problematic opioid use.
• Dependence and opioid use disorder: 43 studies that identified problematic opioid use through diagnostic codes
• Signs and symptoms of dependence and opioid use disorder: 44 studies that looked for behaviors indicating dependence and opioid use disorder, such as craving, tolerance, or withdrawal, without use of specific diagnostic codes;
• Aberrant behavior: 76 studies that looked for inappropriate or concerning behavior, such as seeking early refills, repeated dose escalations, or frequently lost prescriptions; and
• At risk of dependence and opioid use disorder: 8 studies that looked for characteristics that might increase the risk of developing opioid dependence or opioid use disorder in the future.
The prevalence (frequency) of problematic opioid use for each category was:
• Dependence and opioid use disorder: 9.3%, or nearly 1 in 10 patients.
• Signs and symptoms of dependence and opioid use disorder: 29.6%, nearly 1 in 3 patients.
• Aberrant behavior: 22%, more than 1 in 5 patients.
• At risk of dependence and opioid use disorder: 12.4%, nearly 1 in 8 patients.
What makes chiropractic care different from traditional medical care is that it features hands-on, opioid free treatment.
Presented as a service to the community by: Union County Chiropractic Clinic, 110 Skyline Drive, Maynardville, TN (865) 992-7000 www.unioncountychiropractic.com
- Log in to post comments