Association between rapid opioid reduction or discontinuation and self-harm, suicide attempt, and suicide death among patients receiving high-dose, long-term opioid therapy in North Carolina, 2006-2018.

ABSTRACT: We examined the association between rapid reduction or discontinuation of opioid therapy and self-harm, suicide attempt, and suicide death among patients receiving high-dose, long-term opioid therapy (HD-LTOT) and examined effect measure modification by individual and neighborhood-level characteristics. Using private insurance data from North Carolina, this retrospective cohort study covered January 2006 to September 2018, with up to 4 years of follow-up. Participants included patients aged 18-64 years who were prescribed HD-LTOT. The time-varying exposure was ever exposed to rapid opioid therapy reduction or discontinuation vs never exposed. The outcomes were self-harm or suicide attempt, suicide death, and the combined outcome. We estimated cumulative incidence and used Fine-Gray models

SUBMITTER: Alam IZ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12624466 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature