[dingbat]

i wouldnt put that much meaning into reasons for the misleading headline choice. simplest explanation is "Opioid Use Explains..." is better clickbait than "Not Sure if Opioid Use is Causal or Symptom"

[dv_dt]

"Opioid use associated with.." would be better journalism. "Explains" is clickbait indeed.

[nsxwolf]

That's better journalism but to the average reader "associated with" means "causes".