Opioids increase risk of death when compared to other pain treatments

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-06/vumc-oir061316.php

Public Release: 14-Jun-2016
Opioids increase risk of death when compared to other pain treatments
Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Long-acting opioids are associated with a significantly increased risk of death when compared with alternative medications for moderate-to-severe chronic pain, according to a Vanderbilt study released today in JAMA.

Not only did long-acting opioids increase the risk of unintentional overdose deaths, but they were also shown to increase mortality from cardiorespiratory events and other causes.

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We found that the opioid patients had a 64 percent increased risk of death for any reason and a 65 percent increased risk of cardiovascular death," said Ray, professor of Health Policy at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.

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