Final answer:
An adult with cancer is most likely to be prescribed long-term opioid use, as cancer can cause severe chronic pain. Opioids are reserved for conditions with severe pain where benefits outweigh risks, like addiction.
Step-by-step explanation:
The client most likely to be prescribed long-term use of opioids is an adult with cancer. Cancer often causes severe and chronic pain, which may require the enduring analgesic effects that opioids provide. In comparison, a child after appendectomy is typically prescribed opioids for a short recovery period. An adult with neuropathy may use opioids but often in conjunction with other treatments, and the goal is to manage the condition with the lowest effective dose to avoid addiction. An older client with a stroke may need pain management, but long-term opioid use is not typically the first line of treatment due to the risk of side effects and addiction in older populations, who may be more sensitive to medications.
Addiction and overdose are serious risks associated with opioids, and any long-term use needs careful monitoring. Opioids like morphine, oxycodone, and codeine are commonly prescribed for pain relief but come with the risk of addiction, even when used as directed. Therefore, opioids are usually reserved for severe pain conditions, such as cancer, where the benefits outweigh the risks of addiction and side effects.