Recovering From Traumatic Brain Injuries — Interview With Dr. Dan Engle

2018 Interview

Guidelines for tapering off opioids recommend gradually reducing 5% to 10% of the morphine-equivalent dose every two to four weeks and switching from immediate-release opioids to extended-release on a fixed schedule.

Research shows 15% of complex surgical patients develop severe postoperative pain leading to extended use of opioids. Implementing a transitional pain program helped nearly half of those who had not used opioids prior to surgery to wean off the drugs. Among those who had already used opioids prior to surgery, 1 in 4 was able to quit.

To help patients manage their pain, the program uses a variety of methods, including nonopioid medications, exercise, acupuncture and mindfulness training.

Opioids killed 33,000 Americans in 2015 and nearly 42,250 in 2016. The death toll is still trending upward, as overdose cases admitted into emergency rooms increased by more than 30% across the U.S. between July 2016 and September 2017.

Studies show addiction affects more than 1 in 4 of those using opioids for chronic noncancer pain, and 1 in 550 patients die from opioid-related causes within 2.5 years of their first prescription.

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