Opioid Dose and Drug-Related Mortality in Patients With Nonmalignant Pain.

The article discusses a study about the relationship between opioid dose and opioid-related mortality in patients with non-malignant pain in Ontario. The study involved patients ranging in age from 15 to 64 who were eligible for publicly funded prescription drug coverage and had received an opioid from August 1, 1997 to December 31, 2006. Results showed that the risk of opioid-related death was highest in patients who were treated with 200 milligrams or more of morphine daily.