Pain Patients: Collateral Victims of the War on Drugs

Abstract

The more than 30 million chronic pain patients use opioid pain medication safely when prescribed. The vast majority of overdose deaths are caused by street drugs, particularly illicit fentanyl analogs. Restrictions on prescription pain medications, therefore will do little to curb overdose deaths, while imposing great harm to pain patients. A misplaced policy focus on restricting prescriptions leaves both pain patients and people with substance use disorder worse off..