- Joined
- Nov 21, 1998
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Opioid Overprescribing Is Not a Myth
"Satel writes that “we must be realistic about who is getting in trouble with opioid pain medications. Contrary to popular belief, it is rarely the people for whom they are prescribed.” Yes, it oversimplifies matters to suggest that every opioid-addicted American developed the condition from legitimate medical use. But let us be clear: Opioid use disorder is common in chronic pain patients treated with long-term opioids, and our nation’s opioid addiction epidemic stems largely from the overprescribing of opioids for the treatment of pain. Satel suggests that efforts to promote more cautious prescribing are harming patients with chronic pain. We suggest the opposite: that a lack of understanding of chronic pain, and an overreliance on opioids to treat it, is compounding both the opioid crisis and the problem of inadequately treated chronic pain."
"Satel writes that “we must be realistic about who is getting in trouble with opioid pain medications. Contrary to popular belief, it is rarely the people for whom they are prescribed.” Yes, it oversimplifies matters to suggest that every opioid-addicted American developed the condition from legitimate medical use. But let us be clear: Opioid use disorder is common in chronic pain patients treated with long-term opioids, and our nation’s opioid addiction epidemic stems largely from the overprescribing of opioids for the treatment of pain. Satel suggests that efforts to promote more cautious prescribing are harming patients with chronic pain. We suggest the opposite: that a lack of understanding of chronic pain, and an overreliance on opioids to treat it, is compounding both the opioid crisis and the problem of inadequately treated chronic pain."
