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Treatment for addiction takes many forms and depends on the needs of the
individual. In accordance with the American Society of Addiction Medicine, we offer
information on outcome-oriented treatment that adheres to an established continuum of
care. In this section, you will find information and resources related to evidence-based
treatment models, counseling and therapy and payment and insurance options.
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community understands the struggle and provides guidance born of personal experience.
A Brown University study found that the risk of chronic pain six weeks after a car crash was no greater among people given nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) than among people given prescription opioids.
NSAIDs include ibuprofen and aspirin. Prescription opioids include oxycodone and fentanyl.
“You’d think there would be a wealth of studies comparing our ‘go-to’ pain meds, but there just aren’t,” Dr. Francesca Beaudoin, lead author of the study, said in a statement.
The study, published in the Journal of the International Association for the Study of Pain, analyzed the pain outcomes at six weeks of 948 emergency department patients who had experienced motor vehicle crashes.
Data was drawn from a study conducted in eight hospitals across the United States between February 2009 and October 2011.
Researchers considered more than 50 variables when comparing the effects of these pain medications on patients, including the individual’s medical history and socio-demographic factors. During the final evaluation, researchers compared 284 cases.
Beaudoin’s team discovered that patients who used opioids were 7.2 percent more likely than similar patients who used NSAIDs to report moderate to severe pain six weeks later — an insignificant statistical difference.
However, researchers measured a 17.5 percent increased risk of continuing to use prescription drugs at week six among patients prescribed opioids when compared to those prescribed NSAIDs.
The findings suggest that the type of prescription drug a patient takes does not influence the development of chronic pain six weeks after experiencing a vehicular crash.
Opioids Less Safe than NSAIDs, Report Shows
In February 2015, the National Safety Council released a report that debunked the misconception that prescription opioids are safer alternatives to over-the-counter painkillers.
The 2015 report outlined the side effects of prescription opioid use. These effects include constipation, nausea, vomiting and gastrointestinal bleeding. Opioid abuse could also cause cognitive impairment, respiratory depression and addiction.
The report stated that patients who used prescription opioids before back surgery felt increased pain, decreased function and increased depression. Those who took these drugs prior to total knee replacement also had worse outcomes.
Side effects associated with NSAID use include gastrointestinal bleeding and renal problems, according to the report. These drugs also increase the risk of cardiovascular problems in those with and at-risk for heart disease.
Many organizations have recommended the use of prescription opioids to treat pain in the elderly. However, opioid use in the elderly could be dangerous.
The National Safety Council report referred to a 2010 study stating that elderly individuals who took opioids instead of NSAIDs experienced:
An increased risk of cardiovascular problems
Four times as many fractures
A 68 percent greater risk for a drug-related hospitalization
An 87 percent greater risk of dying during the study period
“After considering the side effects of various pain medications in this paper, the evidence is clear that opioids are dangerous medications that should only be used with great caution when all other options have failed,” Dr. Donald Teater, medical advisor at the National Safety Council and report author, concluded.
The House Approves Bill To Curb Opioid Epidemic
The use of prescription opioids has skyrocketed in recent years. In response, the government has gone to great lengths to combat this growing epidemic.
On Nov. 30, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a health policy bill that would invest $1 billion in funding over the next two years for opioid addiction prevention and treatment programs. The bill is also designed to increase medical innovation and strengthen mental health services.
The bill, called the 21st Century Cures Act, passed the House with a vote of 392 to 26. It will now go to the Senate.
“This is going to be a game-changer,” House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., said at a news conference Wednesday. “It will fundamentally transform the way that we treat and cure diseases in this country.”
Overdose deaths involving prescription opioids have quadrupled since 1999, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. From 1999 to 2014, more than 165,000 Americans have died of prescription opioid overdose.
Methadone, oxycodone and hydrocodone are the drugs most commonly involved in prescription opioid overdose deaths, per the CDC.
Men were more likely than women to die of prescription opioid overdose from 1999 to 2014. During this time, overdose rates were highest among people aged 25 to 54.
Medical Disclaimer: DrugRehab.com aims to improve the quality of life for people struggling with a substance use or mental health disorder with fact-based content about the nature of behavioral health conditions, treatment options and their related outcomes. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider.
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Beaudoin, F.L. et al. (2016, November 7). Persistent pain after motor vehicle collision: comparative effectiveness of opioids versus non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs prescribed from the emergency department — a propensity matched analysis.
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