Studies find that while opioids may provide short-term pain relief, there is no proof that they maintain pain relief or improve patients' ability to function over long periods of time without a serious risk of overdose, dependence or addiction, the statement says.
"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," Dr. Gary Franklin, of the University of Washington in Seattle, said in an academy news release.
"There have been more deaths from prescription opioids in the most vulnerable young to middle-aged groups than from firearms and car accidents," he added. "Doctors, states, institutions and patients need to work together to stop this epidemic."