Banerjee G, Edelman EJ, Barry DT, et al. - Researchers examined the predictive value of the dose and duration of opioid prescriptions for subsequent heroin use in United States veterans. Analysis of data from 2002 to 2012 from the Veterans Aging Cohort Study revealed an association of prior receipt of a high-dose opioid prescription, but not of long-term opioid receipt, with past-year heroin use in the final model, that was adjusted for HIV and hepatitis C virus infection status, sociodemographics, pain interference, posttraumatic stress disorder, depression, and use of marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamines, and unhealthy alcohol use. Hence they emphasize monitoring patients receiving high-dose opioid prescriptions for heroin use. Findings thereby support current national guidelines advising against prescribing high-dose opioids for treating pain.