Opioid Prescribers Can Play a Key Role in Stopping the Opioid Overdose Epidemic

Chronic pain affects 100 million Americans, but opioids may not be appropriate for many pain patients.

Prescription opioid medications can help treat and manage severe pain but may pose risks for addiction, overdose, and death.

The risk of addiction, overdose, and death are increased when patients are prescribed higher doses of prescription opioids.
In a recent study, nearly 60% of patients using prescription opioids were also taking other prescription drugs that put them at higher risk of overdose; more than 29% were prescribed benzodiazepines, 28% were prescribed muscle relaxants, and 8% were prescribed all three medications concurrently.
Misuse of prescription opioids is a risk factor for heroin use—80% of people initiating heroin use report prior misuse of prescription opioids.

Chronic pain affects 100 million Americans, but opioids may not be appropriate for many pain patients.

In 2014, Americans filled 245 million prescriptions for opioid pain relievers, making them the most frequently prescribed medication in the U.S.
Among new pain patients who take prescription opioids for more than 30 days in the first year, 47% continued to do so for 3 years or longer.⁷
Patients with central pain syndromes (e.g., fibromyalgia, tension headaches) respond better to antidepressant and anticonvulsant medications than to opioids.
Chronic opioid use can lead to increased pain sensitivity, exacerbating pain conditions.