10 percent of patients continue to use opioids three to six months after heart surgery

(University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine) Nearly 10 percent of patients who are prescribed opioid medications following heart surgery will continue to use opioids more than 90 days after the procedure, according to a new study led by researchers at Penn Medicine. The study also revealed a direct link between the dosage of opioids first prescribed following discharge and the likelihood of persistent opioid use 90 to 180 days after the procedure.