RT Journal
A1 Katz MH
T1 Opioid prescriptions for chronic nonmalignant pain: Driving on a dangerous road
JF JAMA Internal Medicine
JO JAMA Internal Medicine
YR 2013
FD February 11
VO 173
IS 3
SP 178
OP 178
DO 10.1001/jamainternmed.2013.1838
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/jamainternmed.2013.1838
AB 
Over the last 2 years, the journal has published several articles describing the harms of long-term opioid use for chronic nonmalignant pain, especially when prescribed at high doses. For example, Gomes et al,1 in an analysis of patients who received opioid medication from the Ontario publicly funded prescription coverage program, found that patients who receive a daily dose of 20 mg of morphine or its equivalent were more likely to die of an opioid-related cause. Doses greater than 200 mg of morphine or its equivalent were associated with an almost tripling of the risk of opioid-related death compared with persons taking less than 20 mg of morphine or its equivalent.