Mar 18, 2019 - Health
We're prescribing opioids less, but for longer
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
How we prescribe opioids changed between 2006 and 2017 and varies state by state, according to a new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
The bad news: The average duration per prescription and the prescribing rate of long-term opioid prescriptions increased.
- "Duration of use is the strongest predictor of opioid use disorder and overdose," the study's authors write. Every additional week that someone uses opioids, there's a 20% increased risk of developing an opioid use disorder or having an overdose.
The good news: Between 2006 and 2017, the amount of opioids prescribed per person decreased, as did the prescribing rate for high-dosage opioids, short-term opioid prescriptions, and extended-release and long-acting opioid formulations.
- High dosages and longer-acting formulations also increase a person's risk of becoming addicted or overdosing.
- The decline in short-term opioid prescriptions could mean that providers are encouraging other forms of pain management.
Go deeper ... Exclusive: Lawsuit says Johnson & Johnson was opioid "kingpin"
