Even small quantities of opioids prescribed for minor injuries increase risk of long-term use

(University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine) Patients who received their first opioid prescription for an ankle sprain treated in US emergency departments (EDs) commonly received prescriptions for anywhere from 15 to 40 pills, according to new research from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. 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.

from EurekAlert! - Social and Behavioral Science http://ift.tt/2rriDjc