Editor’s Capsule Summary
What is already known on this topic
Prescriptive opioid use and harm increased during the past decades, prompting some to seek emergency department (ED) opioid prescribing limits.
What question this study addressed
What is the pattern of ED opioid deployment after discharge?
What this study adds to our knowledge
In a 1-week cross-sectional survey of 19 EDs across the United States, chart review revealed an opioid prescription frequency at discharge of 11.9% for all patients and 17.0% for discharged patients. The quantities were small (mean ≈15 tablets) and overwhelmingly for oral short-acting agents.
How this is relevant to clinical practice
ED opioid prescribing reduction efforts will likely have modest effect because opioids currently appear to be deployed with caution and aligned with short-term use goals.
Future research we would like to see
A longitudinal study of how ED opioid prescribing affects patients or creates future harm.