Opioids
Narcotics, or opioids, are often used to treat pain, including pain associated with work injuries. Yet, abuse of these painkillers has resulted in such a large increase in hospitalizations and deaths that the situation is called an “opioid epidemic.” IWH research looks at optimal opioid prescribing practices for physicians, as well as the use and effects of opioids related to the treatment of work-related injuries in particular.
Featured
At Work article
IWH study finds 7 in 10 injured workers still experience pain more than a year after injury
A high proportion of injured workers in Ontario experience persistent pain for well over a year after their work-related injury. According to an IWH study of workers' compensation lost-time claimants, 70 per cent of workers experience pain 18 months after their work injury.
Published: September 30, 2022
Journal article
Journal article
Assessment tools for problematic opioid use in palliative care: a scoping review
Published: Palliative Medicine, May 2021
Journal article
Journal article
Changes in early high-risk opioid prescribing practices after policy interventions in Washington State
Published: Health Services Research, February 2021
Project
Project
Opioid-related harms among Ontario workers: a surveillance tool
This project draws on a unique surveillance program and uses data-linkage to capture current trends in opioid-related harms among Ontario injured workers.
Status: Ongoing
Journal article
Journal article
Self-reported practices in opioid management of chronic noncancer pain: an updated survey of Canadian family physicians
Published: Journal of Clinical Medicine, October 2020
Journal article
Journal article
Tracking opioid prescribing metrics in Washington state (2012-2017): differences by county-level urban-rural and economic distress classifications
Published: Journal of Rural Health, October 2020
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Journal article
Factors associated with early opioid dispensing compared with NSAID and muscle relaxant dispensing after a work-related low back injury
Published: Occupational and Environmental Medicine, July 2020
Journal article
Journal article
Prescription opioid overdose and adverse effect hospitalisations among injured workers in eight states (2010-2014)
Published: Occupational and Environmental Medicine, July 2020
Journal article
Journal article
Warning from Canada: Latin America, South Africa and India may face an opioid epidemic in the coming years
Published: Journal of Global Health, June 2020
Journal article
Journal article
Opioid-prescribing metrics in Washington state: trends and challenges
Published: Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, May 2020
Journal article
Journal article
Early high-risk opioid prescribing practices and long-term disability among injured workers in Washington State, 2002-2013
Published: Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, May 2020