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Surgery Connection to Opioid Epidemic

Posted at 8:48 AM, Oct 16, 2018
and last updated 2018-10-16 08:48:19-04
When it comes to preparing for surgery, patients are often concerned about how their doctor will manage their pain during the recovery process. However, despite the availability of non-opioid pain management options, new research shows that opioids are significantly overprescribed, as patients receive between nearly 100 and 200 pills following four common surgical procedures.
 
Findings from Exposing the Silent Gateway to Persistent Opioid Use – A Choices Matter Status Report also reveal that nearly two-thirds of surgeons report frequently feeling pressure to prescribe more opioids than they think are necessary to treat their patients’ pain. As a result of opioid overprescribing, unused pills are increasingly available for misuse and abuse in communities across the country.