Increase in Synthetic Opioid Overdose Deaths Since the Pandemic

Abstract

The epidemiology public health issue addressed by this proposed research is the accelerated rate of opioid overdose deaths since the Pandemic. Providers' choices are considered a contributing factor to the opioid epidemic and first exposure to narcotics often happens in the operating room. Narcotic-free anesthetics are available today for certain cases and some patients might do better without pain medications.