Program helping patients self-regulate strong-opioid use has potential for NHS, study shows
A new support program can increase the number of patients who successfully self-regulate their long-term intake of strong opioid painkillers without worsening their quality of life, a study has shown.
A new support program, the Improving the Well-being of People with Opioid Treated Chronic Pain (I-WOTCH) program, has shown promise in helping patients self-regulate their long-term use of strong opioids without compromising their quality of life, according to a recent study. Over 600 patients with nonmalignant chronic pain participated in the yearlong clinical trial, with 29% in the support group becoming completely opioid-free after 12 months, compared to just 7% of those receiving standard care with no assistance.
While the program incurs higher upfront costs, its long-term benefits suggest it could be a cost-effective solution for the NHS. The study, published in the journal Addiction, highlights the program's ability to reduce the risk of long-term health complications and premature death by helping patients adopt lifelong habits for managing chronic pain through the use of strong opioids only during acute episodes.
Further research is needed to determine whether these beneficial habits remain consistent over time.
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