Published in the journal Addiction, this research examined data from 148 studies involving over 4.3 million patients suffering from non-cancer pain for at least three months. It found that one in three people taking prescribed opioids, such as codeine, tramadol, oxycodone, or morphine, exhibited signs of dependency, with one in 10 becoming fully dependent. Additionally, one in eight patients was found to be at risk of opioid misuse.
The study highlights the risks associated with long-term use of opioid analgesics which, while used for acute pain and end-of-life care, are not recommended for chronic pain management. The research suggests that in the United States and England alone, more than 20 million people could be taking opioids for chronic pain, potentially leading to over 2 million of them becoming dependent. This raises concerns about opioid misuse among patients, prompting calls for more accurate data to better address the problem.
To read how vitamin D deficiency may increase the risk of addiction to opioids, see this news story on our website.
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September 6, 2024Opioid Painkillers Put Millions at Risk of Addiction or Dependency
News
Millions of people are addicted to, or at risk of becoming dependent on, prescription opioid painkillers, according to international research.
[Source: theguardian.com]
[Image source: Adobe Stock]
Comment
Published in the journal Addiction, this research examined data from 148 studies involving over 4.3 million patients suffering from non-cancer pain for at least three months. It found that one in three people taking prescribed opioids, such as codeine, tramadol, oxycodone, or morphine, exhibited signs of dependency, with one in 10 becoming fully dependent. Additionally, one in eight patients was found to be at risk of opioid misuse.
The study highlights the risks associated with long-term use of opioid analgesics which, while used for acute pain and end-of-life care, are not recommended for chronic pain management. The research suggests that in the United States and England alone, more than 20 million people could be taking opioids for chronic pain, potentially leading to over 2 million of them becoming dependent. This raises concerns about opioid misuse among patients, prompting calls for more accurate data to better address the problem.
To read how vitamin D deficiency may increase the risk of addiction to opioids, see this news story on our website.
Dr. Rath Health Foundation
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