Even small quantities of opioids prescribed for minor injuries increase risk of long-term use
Wednesday, May 17, 2017 - 15:51
in Health & Medicine
Patients who received their first opioid prescription for an ankle sprain treated in U.S. emergency departments commonly received prescriptions for anywhere from 15 to 40 pills, according to new research. Those who received 30 or more pills compared to less than 15 pills were twice as likely to fill an additional opioid prescription within three to six months. The authors say the results point to the urgent need for policies and guidelines to address when opioid medications are indicated for minor injuries and to reduce the number of pills supplied for opioid prescriptions.