A new study from the Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) found that there was little reduction in the prevalence of longer-term opioid use in most states studied. In most states, the percentage of claims with opioids that received opioids on a longer-term basis changed little, within 2 percentage points, between 2008/2010 and 2010/2012. The study examined the prevalence of longer-term use of opioids and how often the services recommended by medical treatment guidelines were used for monitoring and managing chronic opioid therapy. Recommended services include drug testing and psychological evaluations and treatment, which may help prevent opioid misuse resulting in addiction and even overdose deaths.

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