Overdose Patients Continue To Get Opioid Prescriptions

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. 

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