1. Association Between Opioid Prescribing Patterns and Opioid Overdose-Related Deaths.
- Author
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Bohnert, Amy S. B., Valenstein, Marcia, Bair, Matthew J., Ganoczy, Dara, McCarthy, John F., Ilgen, Mark A., and Blow, Frederic C.
- Subjects
- *
DRUG overdose , *OPIOIDS , *ANALGESICS , *MORTALITY , *RESEARCH - Abstract
The article discusses a case-cohort study aimed at examining the link between the patterns of opioid prescribing and the risk of death related to opioid overdose conducted at the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) in the U.S. from 2004 to 2008. The study found that the risk of overdose mortality was directly associated to the maximum prescribed daily dose of opioid analgesic medication. No significant increased risk of opioid overdose was found in patients simultaneously treated with as-needed and regularly scheduled opioids for pain exacerbations. Some factors that may play a role in opioid overdose among patients with substance abuse disorders are detailed.
- Published
- 2011
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