Articles: opioid-analgesics.
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The International Narcotics Control Board's (INCB) opioids consumption data are often cited in the literature and by policy makers to benchmark the adequacy of pain management among different countries. This practice may be inaccurate as INCB data does not account for variations in disease burden and use of other pain medications and only controls for population sizes differences among countries. ⋯ INCB data should not be utilized to benchmark the adequacy of pain management among different countries without taking into consideration variations in disease burden and the use of tramadol and other pain drugs.
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To investigate the holistic characteristics of patients administered or prescribed opioids to treat pain in the emergency department (ED). ⋯ Despite increasing awareness of potential implicit bias in managing pain in the ED, racial disparities in OAP still existed. More education and training on implicit bias would help with reduce the disparities. Also, our study result indicated that non-clinical factors may play a role in emergency physicians' decision making in OAP. Increased recognition of the variation and systemic efforts to address factors affecting the variability are needed.
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To determine if postoperative gabapentin administration is associated with decreased opioid consumption or pain scores following cesarean delivery in women on chronic buprenorphine. ⋯ In parturients receiving chronic buprenorphine, inclusion of gabapentin in a multimodal analgesic regimen was not associated with lower opioid consumption or pain scores during the first 72 h after cesarean delivery. Prospective randomized studies are needed to confirm these findings.
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To examine the trends and characteristics of opioid-related hospital admissions in England over 10 years, and its burden for the National Health Service and public finances. ⋯ Opioid use is an increasing public health concern in England, though hospitalisation and mortality rates are less pronounced than in other countries. There are concerns about significant rises in hospitalisations from older, less deprived and sicker population groups. Our findings should prompt policymakers to go beyond monitoring mortality statistics when assessing the impacts of harmful use of opioids.
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To examine the prevalence of rapid discontinuation of chronic, high-dose opioid analgesic treatment, and identify associated patient, clinician, and community factors. ⋯ Most chronic, high-dose opioid treatment episodes that ended in 2017 or 2018 were discontinued more rapidly than recommended by clinical guidelines, raising concerns about adverse patient outcomes. Our findings highlight the need to understand what drives discontinuation and to inform safer opioid tapering and discontinuation practices.