To the Editor: A report in the Weekend Australian earlier this year described an increase in oxycodone-associated deaths, in parallel with an increase in prescriptions for the drug, sometimes known as “hillbilly heroin”.1 These increases are likely to reflect a change in doctors’ prescribing behaviour.
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- 7. Victor TW, Alvarez NA, Gould E. Opioid prescribing practices in chronic pain management: guidelines do not sufficiently influence clinical practice. J Pain 2009; 10: 1051-1057.
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