British scientists from St George’s University of London and the University of Liverpool have discovered that long-term use of painkillers from an early age can lead to poor mental health in adulthood. The study was published in the scientific journal magazine Lancet Regional Health – Europe.
Using a database of anonymous electronic health records, experts examined the health status of 853,625 children and youth ages 2 to 24. Of these people, 115,101 were diagnosed with chronic pain and 20,298 were re-prescribed analgesics.
Scientists concluded that the presence of chronic pain in childhood and adolescence increases the likelihood of future mental disorders by 29%. However, long-term treatment with painkillers increases the likelihood of mental illness by 46% and the risk of substance abuse by 82%.
“These trends are worrying because people under 25 are particularly vulnerable. This means regular use of painkillers to relieve chronic pain can lead to unintentional overuse of medications. When is the right time to refer these young people to specialist pain services for more targeted support?” Determining when there is time will also be a vital factor in updating pain management practices,” said study co-author Professor Richa Sofat.
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