Here are three things to know:
1. Surgeons prescribed 3,765 pills to 102 patients, which is approximately 37 per patient. Of the prescribed pills, only 573.5 were consumed. A total of 3,191.5 pills were unused and potentially available to the public, comprising about 85 percent of all pills.
2. Of the 102 patients who filled a prescription, 29.4 percent did not take any prescription opioids postoperatively.
3. Overall, 68 percent of patients required a maximum of 13 pills postoperatively for six days.
“Surgeons should adjust prescribing standards accordingly to limit the amount of prescription opioids available to the community. Furthermore, a comprehensive response to include increased patient screening and monitoring as well as opioid use and disposal education is recommended,” the study authors concluded.
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