Long-term opioid prescribing fell, but millions still receive extended opioid therapy, study finds
In 2023, about 4.2 million U.S. patients had an active long-term opioid therapy episode, according to a JAMA research letter led by University of Michigan researchers.
Long-term opioid prescribing has declined over the past decade, but co-prescribing patterns have shifted and the patient population has aged — raising new questions about chronic pain management in the U.S.