The Association between Opioid Discontinuation and Heroin Use: A Nested Case-Control Study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Opioid prescribing guidelines recommend reducing or discontinuing opioids for chronic pain if harms of opioid treatment outweigh benefits. As opioid discontinuation becomes more prevalent, it is important to understand whether opioid discontinuation is associated with heroin use. In this study, we sought to assess the association between opioid discontinuation and heroin use documented in the medical record.

Methods

A matched nested case-control study was conducted in an integrated health plan and delivery system in Colorado. Patients receiving opioid therapy in the study period (January 2006-June 2018) were included. Opioid discontinuation was defined as ≥45 days with no opioids dispensed after initiating opioid therapy. The heroin use onset date represented the

SUBMITTER: Binswanger IA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10959283 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature