Opioid Use Linked to Increased Risk of Falls, Death in Older Adults

Research published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal finds that opioid use is linked to an increased risk of falls and death in older adults, reports EurekaAlert . The researchers examined opioid prescriptions in the two weeks before an injury. They found that the people who had filled a prescription for opioids during this time period were 2.4 times more likely to have a fall resulting in an injury. Individuals who had falls linked to opioid use were also more likely to die while in the hospital. The study included 67,929 participants with an average age of 81. The majority of the people studied were women.