Mayo Clinic Minute: Avoid opioids for chronic pain

Pain is real and a major issue in America. According to the National Institutes of Health, pain affects more Americans than diabetes, heart disease and cancer combined, and chronic pain is the most common cause of disability.

Many people who suffer with chronic pain find relief from opioid pain medication. Mayo Clinic experts say opioids may benefit a certain percentage of people with chronic pain, such as advanced cancer patients, but they are usually not the best long-term option for most.

In this Mayo Clinic Minute, reporter Vivien Williams discusses the pros and cons of opioid use for chronic pain with pain management specialist Dr. Mike Hooten.