Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 11, 2025

Assessment of Morphine-induced Hyperalgesia and Analgesic Tolerance in Mice Using Thermal and Mechanical Nociceptive Modalities
Published on: July 29, 2014
Analgesic methadone prescribing in community health centers among patients with chronic pain
Steffani R Bailey1, Jean P O'Malley2, Daniel M Hartung3
1Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4482-8083.
Objective:
To examine analgesic methadone prescriptions among community health center (CHC) patients with chronic pain.
Design:
Observational; two cross-sectional periods.
Setting:
Oregon and California CHCs.
Patients:
Chronic pain patients with ≥1 visit in 2012-2013 or 2017-2018 (N = 158,239).
Outcomes:
Changes in adjusted relative rates (aRRs) of receiving no opioids, short-acting only, long-acting only other than methadone, and methadone; characteristics associated with ≥1 methadone prescription.
Results:
Opioid prescribing declined over time, with the largest decrease in methadone (aRR = 0.19, 95 percent confidence interval: 0.14-0.27). Among patients receiving ≥1 long-acting opioid, variables associated with methadone prescribing included being aged <65 years, having nonprivate insurance, and an opioid use disorder (OUD) diagnosis. From 2012-2013 to 2017-2018, aRR increased among patients with OUD and decreased for those aged 18-30 (vs ≥65), uninsured and Medicaid-insured (vs private), and race/ethnicity other than non-Hispanic Black (vs non-Hispanic White).
Conclusions:
Methadone prescribing decreased in CHCs but remained elevated for several high-risk demographic groups.
Related Concept Videos
Opioid Analgesics: Synthetic and Semisynthetic Opioids
Analgesia and Pain Management
Opioid Analgesics: Morphine and Other Natural Cogeners
Drug Abuse and Addiction: Pharmacological Phenomena
Phase II Reactions: Methylation Reactions
The mechanism of methylation unfolds in two stages. The first stage sees a methyltransferase enzyme facilitating the transfer of a methyl group from S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) to the substrate, forming S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH). The second stage involves further metabolism of SAH into homocysteine, which can be recycled...
Drug Dependence

