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Investigators used claims records from 14 states to examine the number of emergency department (ED) visits and occurrence of adverse drug events (ADEs, defined as drug or alcohol intoxication, withdrawal, or overdose) in adults without cancer who had used opioids for 90 consecutive days between 2000 and 2005.
Among nearly 50,000 patients who met the study criteria, mean age was about 50 and 62% were women. The most prevalent diagnosis was back pain. Overall, 25% of patients visited an ED during the 12 months after the date of first opioid use. Number of ED visits was associated with prior diagnosis of a mental health disorder, opioid abuse or dependence, and use of short-acting Schedule II opioids, but not with opioid dose. ADEs occurred in …