(Health, Experiences and Risk of Overdose in People with Chronic Pain (HEROIC-study)
The HEROiC study aims to investigate health, experiences, and overdose risk among people living with chronic pain who use physician-prescribed opioids. The goal is to improve our understanding of factors that may increase or reduce overdose risk, thereby helping healthcare services provide better information, follow-up, and preventive support. The study will examine the role of alcohol use, the use of other medications and substances, mental health, trauma experiences, loneliness, financial challenges, and health literacy, that is, people's ability to find, understand, evaluate, and use health information.
About the project
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Project period: 18.08.2026 - 30.12.2035 (Active)
- Coordinating Institution: Norwegian Institute of Public Health
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Project Manager:
- Linn Gjersing, Alcohol, Tobacco and Drugs
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Project Participants:
- Kari Sørensen, Lovisenberg Diaconal University College
- Marie Hamilton Larsen, Lovisenberg Diaconal University College
Summary
Why do some people experience an overdose while using prescription opioids for pain treatment? Chronic pain affects many people and can have a major impact on quality of life, mental health, and daily functioning. Some individuals with severe or persistent pain are prescribed opioid medications as part of their treatment. While these medicines can be beneficial for some patients, they are also associated with a risk of dependence and overdose. In Norway, prescription opioids have become the leading cause of overdose deaths in recent years. Despite this, we still know too little about why some people are more vulnerable to overdose than others.
The HEROiC study aims to investigate health, experiences, and overdose risk among people living with chronic pain who use physician-prescribed opioids. The goal is to improve our understanding of factors that may increase or reduce overdose risk, thereby helping healthcare services provide better information, follow-up, and preventive support. The study will examine the role of alcohol use, the use of other medications and substances, mental health, trauma experiences, loneliness, financial challenges, and health literacy, that is, people's ability to find, understand, evaluate, and use health information.
Approximately 1,800 people living with chronic pain will be invited to participate in a survey. In addition, some participants will be invited to take part in individual interviews, where they can share their experiences with chronic pain, opioid treatment, communication with healthcare professionals, and situations that may influence how they use medications or alcohol. Participants who wish to do so will also be followed over several years, allowing researchers to investigate how health, medication use, and risk factors change over time. With participants' consent, survey data may be linked to national health registries. The project has been developed in collaboration with the Norwegian Association for Chronic Pain Patients. The experiences and perspectives of people living with chronic pain have played an important role in shaping the study design and the research questions being explored. The knowledge generated by this project may contribute to improved pain management, increased patient safety, and more effective overdose prevention efforts. Ultimately, the aim is to help people who use opioids as part of pain treatment receive better support for safe medication use and reduce the risk of serious harm, including overdose.