Itoga NK, et al. - In this retrospective cohort study, researchers evaluated the link between peripheral artery disease (PAD) and high-risk opioid use and assessed how PAD treatment influences opiate use. From the Truven Health MarketScan database (Truven Health Analytics, Ann Arbor, MI), they identified 178,880 patients with PAD who met the inclusion criteria. Critical limb ischemia (CLI) was identified in 35% of these. Observations revealed a greater risk for high opioid use among patients with PAD. Nearly one-quarter of the patients met the high opioid use criteria. High opioid use was even greater in those with CLI and those receiving treatment for PAD. These findings emphasize further investigation into underlying causes and deterrents of high-risk opioid use in addition to heightened awareness and active opioid management.