Opioid Use and Disposal After Surgery
Author Information
Author(s): Laurn B. Hanson, Porter S. Hummel, Jacob W. Kokko-Ludemann, Kristi Lee, Linnea A. Polgreen
Primary Institution: University of Iowa
Hypothesis
This study aims to collect knowledge of patient opioid use and what happens to opioids that go unused for participants with recent surgery.
Conclusion
The study highlights the need for interventions to increase awareness of disposal programs to prevent diversion of medications.
Supporting Evidence
- 31% of participants finished their entire opioid regimen.
- 56% reported taking only some of their medication.
- 13% did not take any of the opioids they were prescribed.
- Most participants stored leftover opioids in accessible areas.
- Only 24% used a drug-take-back program for disposal.
Takeaway
Many people who have surgery don't use all their prescribed pain pills, and leftover pills can be dangerous if not disposed of properly.
Methodology
Participants were surveyed electronically about their opioid use after surgery, including how much they took and what they did with leftovers.
Potential Biases
Social-desirability bias may have influenced participants' responses.
Limitations
The study was a pilot with a small sample size, which may limit generalizability, and responses may be affected by recall bias.
Participant Demographics
Participants ranged in age from 18 to 81, with most being young adults and living with others; only 9% lived alone.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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