As the Super Bowl approaches, a new study brings encouraging news for professional football players: the majority of NFL athletes are avoiding opioid-based pain relievers when dealing with injuries. Research analyzing data from the 2021 and 2022 seasons suggests that efforts by the National Football League (NFL) to curb opioid use have been largely successful, with the drugs accounting for less than 3% of all pain medications prescribed.

Dr. Kurt Kroenke, a researcher at the Regenstrief Institute and Indiana University School of Medicine, co-authored the study and highlighted the progress. "Only 10 percent of NFL athletes received even a single prescription for an opioid during a one-year period," he noted, emphasizing that the league has made significant strides in promoting alternative pain management strategies.

Opioid addiction has been a serious concern across the United States, often stemming from prescription painkillers provided for injury relief. Even elite athletes are not immune to these risks. "Professional football is a very physical sport," said Dr. Kroenke in a news release. "But injuries are not unique to the NFL; they also affect professional hockey, NBA basketball, big league soccer, and even college and high school sports. The focus has always been on ensuring that athletes have access to safe and effective pain treatment."

Historically, opioid use in the NFL was alarmingly high. A 2011 survey revealed that more than half of retired NFL players had used opioid painkillers during their careers, with 71% of them admitting to misuse. In response, the NFL, in collaboration with the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA), introduced a prescription drug monitoring program in 2019 to track and regulate painkiller use among players.

The recently analyzed data provides the first comprehensive insights into this initiative. The study examined 14,903 pain medication prescriptions for 2,207 NFL players in 2021 and 14,880 prescriptions for 2,189 players in 2022. Findings confirmed a sharp decline in opioid prescriptions, with over 90% of players never receiving an opioid for pain relief.

Instead, athletes were primarily prescribed non-opioid medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including ibuprofen, naproxen, diclofenac, and celecoxib. These findings align with recent pain management guidelines issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which recommend minimizing opioid use whenever possible.

Dr. Kroenke, who also serves as a consultant for the NFL-NFLPA Joint Pain Management Committee, believes the league’s approach sets a precedent for other sports. "The shift in pain management strategies is not limited to professional football," he explained. "The lessons learned in the NFL can apply across all levels of sports, ensuring that pain relief is both effective and safe."

As the NFL continues its commitment to player safety, the study underscores the importance of structured, evidence-based approaches to pain management—offering a promising outlook for athletes at all levels of the sport.