Evaluating Postoperative Opioid Prescription Fills and Refills for Adolescents Undergoing Surgery

In brief

This study examines prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) data accuracy for tracking opioid prescriptions in adolescent surgical patients. Understanding fill and refill patterns helps optimize postoperative pain management while minimizing risks of substance misuse in this vulnerable population.

• State prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) track controlled substances but their accuracy for adolescent postoperative opioid prescriptions remains unvalidated.
• PDMPs are designed to reduce opioid misuse and diversion, yet gaps exist in monitoring adolescent surgical patients specifically.
• Adolescents receiving postoperative opioids represent a vulnerable population requiring more precise PDMP tracking and oversight.

Written by the GCMD Library team from the article.