NPR

Poll: Doctors Are Still Prescribing Lots Of Opioids For Low Back Pain

More than half of Americans suffer lower back pain each year, the latest NPR/Truven Health Analytics survey finds. And they're often not going for treatments recommended as safest and most effective.
Source: Alyson Hurt

More than half of people say they've suffered lower back pain in the past year, according to the latest NPR-Truven Health Analytics Health Poll.

That's not a surprise; low back pain is very common, and one of the biggest reasons that people seek medical care. But people told us that they're making very different choices in how they treat that pain, with some stark differences among age groups and income levels.

And doctors often aren't giving people advice based on the best medical evidence, instead prescribing treatments that don't relieve back pain and

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from NPR

NPR1 min readAmerican Government
Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago Classified Documents Case Is Delayed Indefinitely By Judge
The classified documents trial had been scheduled to begin May 20. But months of delays had slowed the case as prosecutors pushed for the trial to begin before the November presidential election
NPR2 min read
Toxic Culture Is The Norm At The FDIC, Outside Review Cites 500 Employee Complaints
A law firm investigation of the FDIC documents a toxic workplace culture where hundreds of employees complained of sexual harassment, discrimination and other misconduct.
NPR2 min readInternational Relations
Nebraska Republican Brings Resolution To Censure Ilhan Omar
This comes after recent remarks Omar gave on a college campus where she referred to Jewish students not engaging in an anti-Israel protest "pro-genocidal."

Related Books & Audiobooks