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British investigators evaluated the effect of an intensive counseling intervention focused on opioid discontinuation in 608 adult patients (mean age, 61) with chronic noncancer pain. Patients were taking long-term opioids (median daily morphine equivalent, 47 mg) and were randomized to an intensive counseling intervention or usual care (consisting of an educational booklet). The intervention — a structured approach to opioid reduction and discontinuation — included a 3-day group counseling session and several telephone and individual follow-up sessions (total contact, 17 hours during 8–10 weeks).
About half of intervention patients adhered fully to the program. At 12 months, both groups had improved by 4 points on a validated 77-point scale …