Moving beyond misuse and diversion: The urgent need to consider the role of iatrogenic addiction in the current opioid epidemic

G.A. Beauchamp, E.L. Winstanley, S.A. Ryan and M.S. Lyons

American Journal of Public Health, 2014, vol. 104, issue 11, 2023-2029

Abstract: An epidemic of drug overdose deaths has led to calls for programs and policies to limit misuse and diversion of opioid medications. Any parallel call to consider the risk of iatrogenic addiction when treating pain has been muted in comparison. We have moved beyond questions of nonmedical use, abuse, and diversion to highlight the role of prescription opioids in causing addiction even when prescribed and used appropriately. Unfortunately, current evidence is insufficient, and a rapid expansion of longitudinal research is urgently needed to guide clinicians in balancing the need for opioids with the risk of adverse consequences. Meanwhile, medical education should place greater emphasis on the abuse liability of prescription opioids, and providers should endeavor to attenuate risk when possible. © 2014, American Public Health Association Inc. All rights reserved.

Keywords: Acute Pain; analgesia; Epidemics; epidemiology; human; iatrogenic disease; Opioid-Related Disorders; prescription drug diversion; Prescription Drug Misuse; prevention and control; risk factor; statistics and numerical data; United States, Acute Pain; Epidemics; Humans; Iatrogenic Disease; Opioid-Related Disorders; Pain Management; Prescription Drug Diversion; Prescription Drug Misuse; Risk Factors; United States (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2014
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2014.302147_1

DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2014.302147

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