Use and frequency of oral opioids are the greatest predictor of subsequent opioid addiction

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4767561/pdf/nihms752582.pdf

The opioid epidemic is an escalating public health crisis that requires a public health response proportionate in scale. Our results suggest that preventing transition to non-oral pharmaceutical opioid use, preventing transition to opioid dependence (by reducing/maintaining (or eliminating) frequency of PO use), and educating PO users about the risks involved in reasons for use among those non-opioid dependent are important intervention targets.