The AP (8/2, Tanner) reports that research published in JAMA Surgery “suggests many surgery patients often end up with leftover opioid” pain medications and “store the remaining” tablets “improperly at home.”
Reuters (8/2, Cohen) reports that investigators found that in “six earlier studies, 67 percent to 92 percent of patients who were prescribed opioids following surgery reported winding up with leftover” medication. Meanwhile, “five studies found that only one in four patients reported storing opioids in a locked location.”
Related Links:
— “LEFTOVER OPIOIDS ARE A COMMON DILEMMA FOR SURGERY PATIENTS,” LINDSEY TANNER, Associated Press, August 2, 2017.