The prevalence of chronic opioid use was 1.3 percent, and chronic users cost $23,049, compared with $4,975 on average for non-users. Patients who were adherent to their regimen cost on average $23,160, compared with nonadherent patients who cost the system $26,433.
The researchers found that nonadherence was significantly associated with higher healthcare costs, even when adjusting for demographics.
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Chronic Opioid Abusers Cost the Healthcare System $3k More Than Adherent Pain Patients
Written by Laura Miller | October 11, 2012
A year-long study published in the American Journal of Managed Care showed that chronic opioid users place a significant economic burden on the healthcare system.
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