"Unused opioids that have been prescribed for pain after surgery serve as an important reservoir for potential opioid misuse, and this very likely contributes to the ongoing opioid crisis," said Dr. Mark Bicket, a professor at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore who led the research.
The findings highlight the need for surgeons to personalize pain management to avoid overprescribing and reduce the risks that arise when addictive pills are left in unlocked medicine cabinets and kitchen cupboards, said Bicket, an anesthesiologist and pain specialist.