A new study found that COVID-19 survivors have a higher risk of death and health problems. Researchers also found that doctors are using prescription opioids to manage symptoms experienced by those long haul survivors. 

The study appeared in the journal Nature. Using data from the Department of Veterans Affairs, researchers studied more than 73,000 non-hospitalized patients. They observed an increased use of pain medications, including opioids. 

Dr. Rajesh Khanna is a professor at the University of Arizona and the co-director at the Center for Chronic Pain and Addiction. 

"So, the COVID-19 virus itself is very insidious. It has an umbrella of effects, including respiration, nervous system, mental health effects, metabolic disorders. So some of them also result in excessive pain and headache and myalgia among these patients. So presumably, for some of these, opiates are being prescribed for COVID patients."

According to the researchers, this is the largest and most comprehensive post acute COVID-19 study to date.