The American Academy of Neurology (AAN) has released a statement discussing the risks of prolonged use of narcotic-based painkillers for management of chronic pain. Published in the journal Neurology, the report discusses how the risks associated with extended use of this class of drugs far outweigh the benefits that are being observed by researchers.

Complications arising from opioid drugs have been well established and include issues like addiction, overdose and high rates of death. Dr. Gary Franklin, from the University of Washington said in AAN’s statement, “More than 100,000 people have died from prescription opioid use since…the late 1990’s.”

The addiction potential of these drugs is very high, as research shows that half of those who have taken opioids for three months or more were still on them at the five year mark.

These types of side effects themselves lend data to support the class of drug’s relative ineffectualness at improving quality of life for chronic pain sufferers. Franklin and his team state that aside from short-term benefits in pain reduction, very little evidence exists that they ease pain in the long run.

Franklin says that young adults and middle-aged adults are the most vulnerable to opiate dependencies and that opioid abuse is responsible for more deaths among these groups than car and gun accidents.

To combat the elevated risks, the statement highlights several approaches that could be used to better regulate consumption of these pills. Requiring physicians to consult with pain specialists after a dosage threshold was among the suggestions. As were urine tests to screen for drug abuse, depression screenings, and treatment plans with patients that include agreements about medications and dosages.