Articles: opioid.
-
People with chronic pain are at increased risk of opioid misuse. Less is known about the unique risk conferred by each pain management treatment, as treatments are typically implemented together, confounding their independent effects. This study estimated the extent to which pain management treatments were associated with risk of opioid use disorder (OUD) for those with chronic pain, controlling for baseline demographic and clinical confounding variables and holding other pain management treatments at their observed levels. ⋯ Coprescription of opioids with either gabapentin or benzodiazepines may substantially increase OUD risk. More positively, physical therapy may be a relatively accessible and safe pain management strategy.
-
While there is limited patient-centred evidence (i.e., evidence that is important for patients and end-users) to inform the use of pharmacologic opioid minimization strategies (i.e., the use of opioid alternatives) for adult surgical patients requiring general anesthesia, such strategies are increasingly being adopted into practice. Our objectives were to describe anesthesiologists' beliefs regarding intraoperative opioid minimizing strategies use and utility, and to explore important clinical decision-making factors. ⋯ In our survey of Canadian anesthesiologists, several opioid minimization strategies were believed to be effective complements to general anesthesia, although there was substantial variation in their reported use. Future randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews evaluating the effectiveness of opioid minimization strategies should prioritize patient-centred outcome measures assessment such as the quality of recovery or the impact of acute pain on functioning.
-
Opioid overdoses have increased at a concerning rate in recent years. Middle-aged individuals have been reported as an age group of high concern for opioid overdoses. The purpose of this study was to assess trends in opioid overdose 911 dispatches between Q1 2018 and Q3 2023 among different age groups. It was hypothesized that the steepest increase in dispatches would be among middle-aged individuals. ⋯ Middle-aged individuals experienced significant increases in opioid-related 911 dispatches between Q1 2018 and Q2 2021, and had the steepest increase compared to the other age groups. Conversely, younger-aged individuals have experienced a recent decrease in dispatches. These findings support previous indications that middle-aged individuals are at significant risk for opioid overdose. Additional research is necessary to identify geographic and demographic factors that may affect these trends.