Worry Grows as Number of Opioid Painkiller Addicts Increases

A study suggests that as many as one in 10 long-term users could become dependent on opioid painkillers, which have fueled an ‘epidemic’ resulting in the death of half a million Americans.

Concerns have been raised in the UK after a largescale study indicated that many people using opioid painkillers are at risk of addiction.

Misuse of prescription drugs in the United States has been declared a public health emergency, with over half a million Americans believed to have died from opioid fentanyl overdoses since the crisis began in the late 1990s.

Researchers in the UK are increasingly concerned about opioid use due to widespread prescribing for chronic pain and a rise in opioid-related deaths.

Common prescription drugs containing opioids include tramadol, codeine, oxycodone, morphine, methadone, and fentanyl.

Close to a Third Displayed Addictive Traits

The Bristol study, published in the journal Addiction, analyzed data from 148 studies involving over 4.3 million patients aged 12 and over with chronic pain who were treated with opioid analgesics for at least three months.

They discovered that 9.3 percent of patients prescribed opioid-containing pain medication met the criteria for “dependence and opioid use dependence disorder.”

Nearly a third (29.6 percent) displayed signs of dependence, while over one in five individuals (22 percent) exhibited aberrant behavior, such as seeking early refills or dose escalations.

The authors concluded that problematic opioid use is prevalent among chronic pain patients prescribed opioid analgesics.

Approximately 5.6 million adults in England were prescribed one or more opioid pain medications in 2017-2018, with a decrease of half a million by 2022-2023.

Chronic pain affects around a quarter of adults globally, with about a third prescribed opioid analgesics.

Many individuals receive strong painkillers post-surgery or for chronic pain, but doctors are encouraged to explore alternative pain management options with patients.

GPs Encouraged to Explore Other Options

Lead author Kyla Thomas, professor of public health medicine at the University of Bristol, highlighted concerns about opioid prescribing for long-term pain, emphasizing the need for alternative treatments.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson emphasized the importance of clinicians working with patients to determine the best treatment and ensure adherence to national guidelines on effectiveness.

The crisis in the United States was exacerbated by both prescription medication and illegal drugs, such as fentanyl, entering the country.

The Netflix series “Painkiller” depicts the origins of the opioid crisis, focusing on Purdue Pharma and the addictive OxyContin.

The Sackler family, owners of Purdue Pharma, have been criticized for their role in the crisis.

PA Media contributed to this report