ICER finds abuse-deterrent opioids costly, of unproven benefit

The US non-profit organization the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) has released a new report which finds little evidence to demonstrate that abuse-deterrent opioids have an impact on opioid abuse.

The report comes as America grapples with an epidemic of opioid abuse, thought to be fuelled by the use of prescription painkillers, which analysts estimate is claiming the lives of over 30,000 people per year.

The researchers assessed the comparative clinical effectiveness and value of ten abuse-deterrent formulations of opioids, and conclude that: “Evidence was insufficient to determine a net health benefit, given uncertainties regarding the balance between reductions in abuse and transition to abuse of heroin and other opioids.”