Pain practice : the official journal of World Institute of Pain
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Review Meta Analysis
Prevalence of problematic use of opioids in patients with chronic non-cancer pain: a systematic review with meta-analysis.
Opioid prescription for chronic noncancer pain is associated with problematic use. We aimed to review and summarize the evidence on the prevalence of problematic use of opioids in adults with chronic noncancer pain and investigate whether the prevalence rates were changing over time. ⋯ Our study presents an alarming estimate regarding the prevalence of problematic use of opioids among patients with noncancer pain. These results deserve special attention from health care professionals and health authorities.