A misleading claim from the 1980s suggested that less than 1% of patients would become addicted to opioids, which fueled the widespread prescription of OxyContin. However, recent research reveals a stark reality: one in four patients prescribed opioids for pain may develop a problem, and one in ten could become severely addicted. The belief that opioids are safe for pain management due to some magical protective factor has been debunked, highlighting the urgent need for a reevaluation of opioid prescribing practices.
