Opioids may not work for back pain

Opioid pain relievers may not alleviate back and neck pain and could cause harm, according to a new study published in the Lancet in June. Researchers at the University of Sydney in Australia treated 310 study participants with either the opioid oxycodone or a placebo. After six weeks, the placebo group had lower average pain scores than the opioid group. At the six and 12-month marks, more people in the opioid group reported ongoing pain. The study's authors concluded that opioids should not be the first choice for acute neck or back pain.