Patient Characteristics and Changes in Long‐Term Opioid Use Among Patients With Non‐Cancer Pain in Dutch Primary Care 2013–2022: A Population‐Based Cohort Study

The about twofold increase in long-term opioid therapy for chronic non-cancer pain between 2013 and 2022, along with the specific rise in potent opioid prescriptions in Dutch primary care, highlights an urgent need for future studies. These studies should focus on developing strategies to accelerate the implementation of revised primary care pain guidelines, especially given the limited effectiveness of long-term opioid treatment in non-cancer pain and the anticipated rise in chronic non-cancer pain due to Europe's ageing population.