To prevent opioid-naive patients from developing an addiction, doctors and pharmacists should err on the side of caution when considering dosages or subsequent refills, a new study suggests.
A substantial increase in opioid prescriptions over the past two decades in the United States has gone hand in hand with a significant rise in overdoses and addiction treatment. These trends have prompted calls for more selective use of opioids for medical reasons.
Researchers at Oregon Health & Science