Although prescription painkillers can be highly addictive for some people, only 1 to 2 percent of opioid patients are likely to develop a “pain reliever use disorder,” which includes medication overuse as well as outright addiction. Of those who do become addicted to prescription painkillers, the majority have underlying mental health issues or a history of alcohol or drug addiction.
All of this paints a complex public health picture that requires a comprehensive and interdisciplinary response uninhibited by frivolous lawsuits. Here are the quick takeaways: