14,000 U.S. deaths a year from opioids

SEATTLE, Aug. 4 (UPI) -- Almost 14,000 U.S. deaths from prescribed opioids such as OxyContin and Vicodin occurred annually from 1999 to 2006, researchers found.

Senior investigator Michael Von Korff of Group Health Research Institute in Seattle says previous research found Group Health, like other health systems nationwide, had been prescribing more opioids for chronic non-cancer pain over time -- a twofold increase from 1997 to 2005.

A report published in Health Affairs describes a major initiative at Group Health to make opioid prescribing safer while improving care for patients with chronic pain.

In the Group Health initiative's first nine months, clinicians documented care plans for almost 6,000 patients, 85 percent of those receiving long-term opioid therapy for chronic non-cancer pain.

Dr. Claire Trescott, Group Health medical director of primary care says the initiative aims to standardize use of opioids for chronic non-cancer pain, without creating undue restrictions on clinically appropriate opioid prescribing.

Trescott worked with primary care doctors, nurses, pharmacists, pain specialists and other clinical leaders to formulate new guidelines and related practice changes. The changes include creating standardized care plans for all patients receiving opioids long-term for chronic non-cancer pain.

"Our new opioid care plans specify one responsible prescribing physician, clarify expectations for monitoring and refills, outline treatment goals, and explain risks and side effects of long-term opioid use," Trescott says.