Prescription Drug Abuse

Chronic pain is one of the most common reasons for seeking medical attention in the United States, and such pain is frequently treated with prescription opioids. The clinical use of these products nearly doubled between 2000 and 2010,1 with simultaneous increases in the incidence of opioid abuse, addiction, injury, and death.2 Because primary care physicians play a critical role in maximizing the safe use of these products, we examined their beliefs and self-reported practices regarding prescription opioid use.