Opioid misuse and overdose have become major problems in recent years, particularly in relation to chronic pain.1 In 2015, an estimated 2 million people in the USA suffered from substance use disorders related to prescription opioid analgesics.2 A retrospective cohort study has sought to quantify the effects on dependence, overdose or abuse of varying opioid prescribing patterns after surgery in an opioid-naive population.3

The study used data from one USA managed healthcare company with more than 37 million members with medical and pharmacy insurance coverage between 2008 and early 2016.3 The sample consisted of members who …