Opioids
The System Is Broken: A Qualitative Assessment of Opioid Prescribing Practices After Spine Surgery
To elucidate factors that influence opioid prescribing behaviors of key stakeholders after major spine surgery, with a focus on barriers to optimized prescribing.An Institutional Approach to Managing the Opioid Crisis
The opioid crisis is a major concern of most health care institutions, including our large academic center. In this article, an organized approach to managing the epidemic institutionally is discussed. An Opioid Stewardship Program was instituted at our tertiary-care center with multiple sites and states of practice, which included diverse membership and expertise. Charges of the program included reviewing current practice, workflows, and external and internal guidelines and evaluating and standardizing prescribing practices.In Reply—The Importance of Educational Interventions and Regional Analgesia in Tackling the Opioid Crisis in the United States
Overprescribing opioids has true risks for our patients. A study by Sanger et al1 found that more than half of patients in a methadone maintenance treatment program were introduced to opioids through a prescription. This carries particular relevance for surgeons, who prescribe a significant portion of all opioids, including many for patients without a history of exposure.2,3 Optimal prescribing practices therefore toe the delicate line between providing adequate pain control and minimizing the risk of medication misuse and abuse.Wide Variation in Opioid Prescribing After Urological Surgery in Tertiary Care Centers
To describe postoperative opioid prescribing practices in a large cohort of patients undergoing urological surgery.
