Preoperative Narcotic Weaning in the Perioperative Patient: Now Is the Time

Opioid use has increased substantially in the last 2 decades, in large part owing to the ubiquitous nature of narcotic prescriptions and the Purdue Pharma-funded programs that drove the use of narcotics for non-cancer pain management.1 The current opioid epidemic is seen as 3 phases, the first starting at the end of the 20th century with prescription narcotics. The second phase occurred at the start of the 21st century with a rise in heroin use, presumably in response to reduced prescription narcotics.
Source: Journal of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Anesthesia - Category: Anesthesiology Authors: Tags: Editorial Source Type: research