A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) indicates that the risk of a serious car accident is linked to long-term opioid use – and that the risk of a crash goes up along with the dose.
The study examined patients who were prescribed varying strengths of opioids like oxycodone, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, and fentanyl. It looked both at patients who were taking the medications for the first time, those who had recently had their doses increased, and those who had been on a stable dose for a period of time.
The study found that with a daily dose of 20 mg of morphine or an equivalent of another opioid, the risk of a car accident increased by 21 percent. Patients taking 100-199 mg of morphine or its equivalent had a 42 percent risk of a serious car accident while driving. Patients whose doses had recently been added or increased were at a higher risk of a crash than those who were on steady doses, indicating that doctors should take care to warn patients about the increased risk of impairment when a medication is first tried or increased.
If you’ve been in a car accident and suffered injuries, Colorado law gives you the right to seek compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and other losses – but you don’t have to tackle this task alone. The skilled Colorado car accident attorneys at The Bussey Law Firm, P.C. can help. Call us today at (719) 475-2555 for a free consultation to discuss your legal options.