Krebs EE, et al. - A comparative scrutiny was carried out of the opioid vs nonopioid medications over 12 months on pain-related function, pain intensity, and adverse effects in individuals with moderate to severe chronic back pain or hip or knee osteoarthritis pain. No notable variation was found in the pain-related function over 12 months. Data displayed that treatment with opioids was not superior to treatment with nonopioid medications for improving pain-related function over 12 months. Therefore, yielded findings did not support the initiation of opioid therapy for moderate to severe chronic back pain or hip or knee osteoarthritis pain.