Can we improve patient outcomes through using evidence-based opioid deprescribing guidelines to reduce opioid use?

We commend Hallvik et al. on their recent cohort study of Oregon Medicaid recipients on high-dose chronic opioid treatment, in which an increased risk of serious patient harms after both opioid continuation and discontinuation was observed. The increased incidence of suicide and illicit opioid use after opioid reduction is concerning, as is the increased risk of fatal overdose for individuals with stable or increasing opioid doses.