The study reported that previous use of pain medications, high perceived risk of addiction and symptoms of depression can increase patient risk more than post-surgical pain.
Researchers studied patients undergoing various types of surgery. They found five months after surgery 6 percent of patients still had prescriptions for opioid drugs. Patients who took opioids for pain before surgery were 73 percent more likely to still be using these medications at follow-up.
Long-term opioid use was also connected with patients who rated themselves as being at increased risk of becoming addicted.
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