Evidence report/technology assessment
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Evid Rep Technol Assess (Full Rep) · Sep 2014
ReviewThe Effectiveness and Risks of Long-Term Opioid Treatment of Chronic Pain.
Chronic pain is common and use of long-term opioid therapy for chronic pain has increased dramatically. This report reviews the current evidence on effectiveness and harms of opioid therapy for chronic pain, focusing on long-term (≥1 year) outcomes. ⋯ Evidence on long-term opioid therapy for chronic pain is very limited but suggests an increased risk of serious harms that appears to be dose-dependent. More research is needed to understand long-term benefits, risk of abuse and related outcomes, and effectiveness of different opioid prescribing methods and risk mitigation strategies.