Pain medicine : the official journal of the American Academy of Pain Medicine
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Identify prescribing trends for opioid use in non-malignant chronic pain (NMCP) from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS). Determine predictors of opioid use based on patient-specific factors. ⋯ Differences exist between those prescribed and not prescribed opioids. Results from this study paired with increased education and further research regarding the appropriate prescribing and monitoring of opioids may help enhance awareness, diminish treatment disparities and improve safe and appropriate use of opioids in the NMCP population.