The Hidden Dangers of Opioids for Chronic Pain—and Safer, Smarter Alternatives
- Dr John Hong
- Jun 5
- 3 min read
John K. Hong, M.D. | 6/5/2025
Chronic pain affects millions of people worldwide, often diminishing quality of life and making even simple tasks feel insurmountable. In the past two decades, opioids were widely prescribed as a go-to treatment for chronic pain. However, what began as a solution has evolved into a national health crisis. The risks associated with long-term opioid use are now well-documented, prompting both patients and healthcare providers to seek safer, more effective alternatives.
The Dark Side of Opioids for Chronic Pain
Opioids—such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, morphine, and fentanyl—are powerful pain relievers. They work by binding to receptors in the brain and spinal cord to block pain signals. While effective for acute and post-surgical pain, their use for chronic, non-cancer pain is increasingly discouraged. Here's why:
1. Risk of Dependence and Addiction
One of the most alarming dangers is how quickly dependence can develop. Even when used as prescribed, long-term opioid use can lead to tolerance (needing higher doses for the same effect), physical dependence, and ultimately, addiction.
2. Diminishing Returns
Over time, opioids become less effective at managing chronic pain. This phenomenon, known as opioid-induced hyperalgesia, can actually make patients more sensitive to pain, exacerbating the very problem they were meant to solve.
3. Severe Side Effects
Chronic opioid use carries a host of side effects—constipation, hormonal changes, sleep disturbances, and mental fog, to name a few. In severe cases, respiratory depression and overdose are real and life-threatening risks. High dose opioid treatment can also cause opioid induced hyperalgesia. This is a condition where opioids have a paradoxical effect, creating increased pain instead of taking it away.
4. Quality of Life Impact
Far from restoring function, opioids can impair it. Many patients report feeling detached, lethargic, or "zoned out," which can interfere with work, relationships, and daily activities.
A Better Path: Targeted Interventional Pain Treatments
As the healthcare community recognizes the limitations and dangers of opioids, attention is shifting toward interventional pain management—a set of minimally invasive procedures designed to target the source of pain directly, rather than masking it systemically.
1. Precision Matters
Unlike oral medications that affect the entire body, interventional treatments like nerve blocks, epidural injections, radiofrequency ablation, or spinal cord stimulation are highly localized. This precision helps relieve pain at its origin without widespread side effects.
2. Reduced Risk of Addiction
Because interventional treatments don’t involve habit-forming drugs, they eliminate the risk of opioid dependence and addiction. Patients can manage their pain without the fear of developing a substance use disorder.
3. Restoring Function, Not Just Masking Pain
The goal of interventional care is not merely to dull discomfort—it’s to help patients regain mobility, return to work, exercise, and live more fully. These treatments are often combined with physical therapy and behavioral strategies for a truly holistic approach.
4. Customizable and Adaptive
Pain is personal. Interventional pain specialists tailor treatment plans to the individual, adjusting over time as needs evolve. This adaptive, patient-centered approach leads to better long-term outcomes.
The Future of Chronic Pain Management Is Interventional
While opioids may still have a limited role in acute or cancer-related pain, their long-term use for chronic conditions is increasingly seen as a high-risk gamble. Interventional pain medicine offers a more precise, sustainable, and empowering path forward.
If you or a loved one is struggling with chronic pain, it's time to explore options beyond the pill bottle. Speak with a board-certified pain management specialist to learn more about how targeted, interventional treatments can safely restore function and improve quality of life.
Contact our office today to explore non-opioid treatments that help diagnose and treat pain at the source. Parkview has offices In Salt Lake City and Park City, Utah.
