High-Risk Opioid Prescribing Increases Risk of Persistent Opioid Use in Adolescent and Young Adult Patients

Approximately 5% of adolescents and young adults continue to use opioids after surgery, and this study investigated the impact of postoperative opioid prescribing on persistent use in this population. The study found that high-risk opioid prescribing practices, such as overlapping prescriptions and multiple prescribers, significantly increased the risk of persistent opioid use in this age group. The majority of opioid prescriptions for persistent use were from nonsurgical prescribers. Prescription drug monitoring programs may help identify young patients at risk for long-term opioid use.