The use of opioids as primary painkillers in the elderly results in greater hospitalizations and mortality, according to a National Safety Council study. The study found that adults over 65 who take opioids are 87% more likely to die than those who take non-opioid pain medications.
In a report to the U.S. CDC, it was affirmed that the use of opioids for pain relief by pregnant women may nearly double the chances of various birth defects, such as congenital heart defects. This study exposes a problem: the use of opioids during pregnancy primarily occurs before the pregnancy is known, while the unborn child is most at risk to develop birth defects.
A panel convened by the National Institutes of Health reported that there is a dire need for specialized pain care, as the majority of patients receive solely opioids. This approach is seen as detrimental due to the lack of studies on opioids' long-term effects and their documented detrimental effects.
Morphine still dominates battlefield pain management despite the downstream potential for opioid abuse and addiction. Recent years have seen an increased caution around opioid use and employment of alternative pain relief techniques. A June 2014 report found that following combat deployment, 15.1% of troops regularly use opioids to manage chronic pain. Innovations in pain management are needed.
The American Academy of Neurology has released a report that details the detrimental effects of reliance on opioids for chronic pain. The study revealed that half of those who initially take opioids for three months are still taking them five years later. This is a dangerous statistic, as opioids are prone to abuse and overdose.