Increasing Rates of Opioid Prescriptions for Gastrointestinal Diseases in the United States
Pain control is an important management approach for many gastrointestinal conditions. Opioid prescription rates for the gastrointestinal disease increased by 0.5% per year from 2006 to 2016. Prescription rates were highest for chronic pancreatitis (25.1%) and chronic liver disease (13.9%) visits. Findings suggest an inadequate response to the opioid epidemic by providers managing gastrointestinal conditions.
