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Opioid misuse and overdose have risen dramatically in recent years. In this study, researchers used data from a large U.S. health insurer to examine opioid use after hospitalization or emergency room presentation for nonfatal opioid overdose in 2848 patients (mean age, 44) who were receiving long-term opioid therapy (duration, ≥12 weeks) for noncancer pain. During the 60 days prior to overdose, opioids were prescribed at an average daily morphine-equivalent dosage of ≥100 mg, 50–100 mg, and <50 mg in 46%, 22%, and 33% of patients, respectively.
During median follow-up of about 300 days, 91% of patients received one or more opioid dispensings; only 7% did not receive opioids during the postoverdose period. Among patients who continued to be p…