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Opioids after head and neck cancer treatment: a lasting problem. Studies show that the majority of patients with head and neck cancer continue using prescription opioids months after radiation or surgery — raising serious concerns about long-term dependency. Experts are calling for proactive opioid stewardship to better manage pain without fueling chronic use.
Two new studies shine a spotlight on a growing concern in head and neck cancer (HNC) care: long-term opioid dependency following treatment. A retrospective cohort study from The Ohio State Comprehensive Cancer Center, published in JAMA Otolaryngology—Head & Neck Surgery, found that among 750 patients prescribed opioids, 70% were still using them 3 months after radiation — and nearly half (47.3%) continued at the 6-month mark.
A separate study in Pain Medicine found similar trends in patients undergoing curative surgery for head and neck adenoid cystic carcinoma (HNACC), with 47.1% still on opioids 90 days post-op. Preoperative opioid use, younger age, and higher physical status scores were key risk factors for chronic use after surgery.
By the Numbers
Why it matters: These findings underscore an urgent need for structured opioid stewardship in HNC survivorship — including early pain specialist involvement, tapering protocols, and non-opioid alternatives — to prevent long-term dependency without compromising patient comfort.
