Sample 1: 1991
Almost all papers published in 1991 acknowledged the controversy
surrounding opioid prescribing and expressed concern at the lack of
definitive scientific evidence about the long-term impacts of opioid
use.20–25Most of these articles were empirical trials (66.7%), half of which
were animal-based.The authors expressed an interest in trying to better
understand pain and pain prevention. These articles generally cited the
index paper’s findings as a motivating reason for their early-stage
research.
Even though there were concerns about the lack of scientific evidence in
1991 for opioid prescribing, the majority of authors cited the index
study neutrally or affirmatively. This is exemplified by Brena, who
concludes that “[at] the present level of information, a prudent
and unbiased course of action is mandatory. We must limit and resist the
use of opioids in non-malignant pain at the clinical level until
cross-validated empirical answers … are
available.”21