Fighting prescription painkiller abuse among baby boomers

Prescription opioid abuse has reached epidemic proportions, with more than half of patients being treated for chronic pain reportedly misusing their medication at some point.

However, new research led by University at Buffalo psychiatric nursing researcher Yu-Ping Chang found motivational interviewing, a form of behavioural counselling, is an effective tool at curbing the abuse.

Prescription opioids, which includes pain medications such as morphine and codeine