Chronic Pain and Disability
There’s pain, and then there’s chronic pain. Most acute, new pain will resolve on its own as the body heals but it can become much, much more complicated. Chronic pain can have a significant impact on a person's daily life and may lead to disability if left untreated. Not everyone with a disability has chronic pain, and not all chronic pain leads to disability, but chronic pain is a prevalent issue in disabled populations, affecting approximately 80% of people with disabilities. Unfortunately, helping people manage chronic pain can be complicated by the risk of opioid abuse and addiction.
Opioids are a class of drugs commonly used to treat chronic pain. You’ve probably heard of some of the most widely prescribed opioids such as OcyContin, Percocet, and Vicodin. While opioids can be effective in reducing pain, they also carry a high risk of abuse and addiction which makes them tricky for long term pain management. This risk is especially high for people with disabilities as studies show that disabled adults are more likely to be prescribed opioids and to experience opioid-related adverse events.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people with disabilities are more likely to die from opioid overdose than people without disabilities. In 2017, the opioid overdose death rate for disabled adults was 2.5 times higher than for non-disabled adults. This is likely due to a combination of factors, including a higher likelihood of being prescribed opioids, a higher risk of accidental overdose due to mobility issues or cognitive impairments, and a lack of access to addiction treatment.
It is important to note that not everyone who uses opioids will develop an addiction. However, the risk is still significant, and healthcare providers should take steps to minimize this risk. This may include using alternative pain management techniques such as physical therapy, acupuncture, or cognitive-behavioral therapy, as well as closely monitoring patients for signs of opioid misuse or addiction.
