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Opioid disposal rates after spine surgery
Susanna Davis Howard1, Anish Agarwal2, Kit Delgado2
1Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.
Surgical Neurology International
|October 8, 2021
Summary
Many patients undergoing spine surgery have leftover opioid pills after discontinuing use, with a significant portion not properly disposing of them. This highlights a critical need for improved prescription opioid disposal strategies to combat misuse.
Area of Science:
- Pain Management
- Public Health
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Prescription opioid diversion is a major factor in the ongoing opioid epidemic.
- Understanding excess opioid pill quantities and disposal practices post-surgery is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify excess opioid pills after spine surgery.
- To assess the rate of appropriate opioid disposal among these patients.
Main Methods:
- Prospective cohort study involving patients undergoing elective spine surgery.
- Utilized a text-messaging program for enrollment and a telephone survey for opioid disposal tracking.
- Surveyed patients who discontinued opioid use but had leftover pills.
Main Results:
- 66% of patients discontinued opioids within 3 months.
- 40% reported excess opioid pills, with a median of 5 leftover pills.
- 64% of surveyed patients with excess pills had not disposed of them properly.
Conclusions:
- A significant gap exists in managing excess postoperative opioids and ensuring proper disposal.
- Initiatives to enhance opioid disposal rates are essential to reduce diversion risk and overprescribing.
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