A new position statement from the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) suggests that the risks associated with prescription opioids, including death, overdose, addiction, or serious side effects, outweighs the benefits among chronic, non-cancer conditions, including fibromyalgia, headache and chronic lower back pain. The position paper was published in the September 30, 2014 print issue of  print issue of Neurology®, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

Opiods are a collection of pain medications including codeine, morphine, oxycodone, methadone, hydrocodone, fentanyl, or a combination of the drugs with acetaminophen.

Gary M. Franklin, MD, MPH, research professor in the Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences in the University of Washington School of Public Health in Seattle and a Fellow with the AAN, said in a statement, “More than 100,000 people have died from prescription opioid use since policies changed in the late 1990s to allow much more liberal long-term use.” He continued, “There have been more deaths from prescription opioids in the most vulnerable young to middle-aged groups than from firearms and car accidents. Doctors, states, institutions and patients need to work together to stop this epidemic.”

Studies have shown that 50 percent of patients who took opioids for at least three months are continuing to take opioids five years later. A review of previous studies indicates that despite significant short-term pain relief from opioids, there is no solid evidence for continued pain relief or improved function over extended periods of time without serious risks of overdose, dependency or addiction.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, overdose deaths from prescription painkillers have increased in the past decade. Each year, roughly 15,000 people die from overdoses involving these drugs, which is more than those who die from heroin and cocaine combined.