Contextualising opioid-related risk factors before an initial opioid prescription

When asked about the similarities between the region of Valencia, Spain and the State of Oregon in the USA, an artificial-intelligence (AI)-driven chatbot poetically listed several common features, such as natural beauty, strong focus on agricultural industries including wine production, extensive outdoor activities and a shared commitment to sustainable practices. But are there similarities in healthcare delivery, considering vastly different systems and significant practice variability, particularly regarding the management of pain and the role of opioid analgesics? Here, the differences emerge. Oxycodone and hydrocodone are commonly prescribed opioids in Oregon,1 whereas prescribers in Valencia typically use tramadol and codeine.2 While Oregon has experienced a rapid increase in opioid-related deaths, reaching a record 548 (13.0 per 100 000 population) in 2021,3 Valencia had 88 (1.8 per 100 000 population) drug-related deaths during the same period.4 Unfortunately, these gaps have begun to narrow: the annual...
Source: BMJ Quality and Safety - Category: General Medicine Authors: Tags: Editorials Source Type: research