Those born outside the U.S. less likely to be prescribed opioids

New research on opioid prescribing patterns finds that those who were not born in the U.S. are less likely to be prescribed the medicines. Looking at survey data from nearly 50,000 individuals between 2016-2017, researchers found that around 14% of U.S.-born individuals reported receiving at least one opioid prescription over a 12-month period, compared to 7% of non-U.S.-born individuals who said the same. Among those with chronic pain, about 25% of U.S.-born patients received an opioid prescription, compared to around 15% of those born elsewhere. These patients were also likely to be treated with opioids for a shorter duration than those born in the U.S. More research is needed to unpack the reason for these differences, the authors write.