Opioid Prescribing and Utilization During Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation Admissions.

Abstract

More than 1 billion opioid prescriptions were written between 2014 and 2018 in the United States [1] to treat the acute, subacute, and, in some cases, chronic pain experienced by millions of Americans. These prescriptions were also a significant driver of opioid-related morbidity and mortality as opioid-related overdose deaths accounted for more than half of all drug-related overdose deaths during that same time [2]. Patients with disabilities are among those who suffer from acute and chronic pain and may be especially vulnerable to opioid use, misuse, and overdose-related injury [3, 4]. Patients with disability-related conditions, including spinal cord injury, brain injury, amputations, and strokes, are often treated by physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) physicians who are responsible for managing their complex and sometimes chronic pain. Pain management during an acute inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF) admission initially continues the acute hospital regimen and is...