Published in JAMA · View the paper (DOI)
Long-term opioid therapy prescription rates declined in the US from 2015 to 2023, despite a growing population of older adults receiving these treatments. Approximately 4-5 million patients were prescribed long-term opioids in 2023, with Medicare covering a larger proportion, raising concerns about safety.
Coverage from 2 institutions
- US trends in long-term opioid therapy JAMA Network · Apr 8, 2026 · first to report
- Study: Long-term opioid prescribing fell, but millions still receive extended opioid therapy University of Michigan School of Public Health · Apr 8, 2026