Health & Medicine
Overdose Patients Continue To Get Opioid Prescriptions
Kathleen Lees
First Posted: Dec 29, 2015 12:02 AM EST
Worldwide, an estimated 69,000 people die from opioid overdose every year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
New findings published in the Annals of Internal Medicine show that nearly 90 percent of patients with chronic pain continue to get prescription opioids even following an overdose--putting these patients at an increased risk of a new overdose.
During the study, researchers identified over 3,000 patients who experienced a nonfatal overdose while taking opioids prescribed for chronic pain.
Unfortunately, findings showed that 91 percent of the patients were still prescribed opioids after the overdose. Furthermore, 70 percent received prescriptions from the same provider who gave them opioids before their initial overdose. Lastly, a two-year follow-up revaled that those taking high doses of opioids were twice as likely to have another overdose when compared to those who discontinued opioid use after an overdose.
The study results push on how health officials should examine the added risks that come with the potential benefits of chronic pain management.
Related Articles
Opioid Pain Use During Pregnancy Increases Risk Of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
For more great science stories and general news, please visit our sister site, Headlines and Global News (HNGN).
See Now:
NASA's Juno Spacecraft's Rendezvous With Jupiter's Mammoth Cyclone
TagsHealth, Human, Annals of Internal Medicine, patients, Treatment, WHO, chronic pain, Opioids, Overdose, Prescription ©2024 ScienceWorldReport.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The window to the world of science news.
More on SCIENCEwr
First Posted: Dec 29, 2015 12:02 AM EST
Worldwide, an estimated 69,000 people die from opioid overdose every year, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
New findings published in the Annals of Internal Medicine show that nearly 90 percent of patients with chronic pain continue to get prescription opioids even following an overdose--putting these patients at an increased risk of a new overdose.
During the study, researchers identified over 3,000 patients who experienced a nonfatal overdose while taking opioids prescribed for chronic pain.
Unfortunately, findings showed that 91 percent of the patients were still prescribed opioids after the overdose. Furthermore, 70 percent received prescriptions from the same provider who gave them opioids before their initial overdose. Lastly, a two-year follow-up revaled that those taking high doses of opioids were twice as likely to have another overdose when compared to those who discontinued opioid use after an overdose.
The study results push on how health officials should examine the added risks that come with the potential benefits of chronic pain management.
Related Articles
Opioid Pain Use During Pregnancy Increases Risk Of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome
For more great science stories and general news, please visit our sister site, Headlines and Global News (HNGN).
See Now: NASA's Juno Spacecraft's Rendezvous With Jupiter's Mammoth Cyclone