Summary
- A scientific review of 148 studies involving 4.3 million chronic pain patients treated with prescription opioids found that nearly 1 in 10 patients experiences opioid dependence or opioid use disorder.
- The review challenges claims from manufacturers like Purdue Pharma, highlighting the prevalence of opioid misuse and addiction among patients.
- The studies were categorized based on problematic opioid use, with prevalence rates ranging from 9.3% to 29.6% across different categories such as dependence, symptoms of dependence, and aberrant behavior.
- Lead author emphasizes the importance of accurate estimates for clinicians and policymakers to address the issue, develop interventions, and manage problematic opioid use in patients.
- The studies included in the review were predominantly from North America and high-income countries, conducted between 1985 and 2021, with caution advised due to the heterogeneity of the findings.
A new scientific review of 148 studies involving over 4.3 million chronic pain patients treated with prescription opioid painkillers revealed that nearly 1 in 10 patients experience opioid dependence or opioid use disorder, and almost 1 in 3 exhibit symptoms of dependence and opioid use disorder. This indicates a higher rate of opioid misuse than previously estimated. The study was conducted by researchers at the University of Bristol and published in the journal Addiction.
The review contradicts claims from companies like Purdue Pharma, the manufacturer of Oxycontin, which stated that fewer than 1% of opioid prescriptions result in issues for patients. The findings show that the risk of opioid misuse and addiction is significantly higher than previously believed. The studies were divided into categories based on how problematic opioid use was defined, with prevalence rates ranging from nearly 1 in 10 patients to more than 1 in 5 patients, depending on the category.
Lead author Kyla Thomas emphasized the importance of having an accurate estimate of the prevalence of problematic opioid use in pain patients to address the issue effectively. The majority of the studies included in the review were from North American research and high-income countries, with varying study sizes and dates. The researchers recommend cautious interpretation of the findings due to the high heterogeneity of the studies.
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Pain Management, Addiction Medicine, Anesthesiology, Psychiatry & Mental Health, Neurology