Protocol found to drastically reduce opioid use and leftover narcotics among post-operative patients

Called STOP Narcotics, the program was developed to reduce the amount of painkillers patients are given following common operations. Western University found the protocol halved the amount of opioids prescribed after two types of outpatient surgery, while still adequately treating most patients' post-operative pain. Under the protocol, surgeons were instructed to write a 10-pill opioid prescription, which expired seven days after surgery. Patients were asked to fill this prescription only if they couldn't achieve adequate pain control with the other drugs. Researchers found there was a 50% reduction in the number of opioids prescribed. Just 45% of patients in the protocol group filled their opioid prescription. As part of the program, patients were also asked to return left-over opioids to a pharmacy or to the hospital. The researchers found the return rate was 7% of patients who weren’t in the program, versus 23% among STOP Narcotics patients.