Too many pain pills after surgery: When good intentions go awry

By: Scott Weiner, MD, Contributor As a physician with an interest in reducing opioid-related problems, I frequently hear stories from colleagues and friends about their loved ones who either struggle with opioid addiction or have even died from opioid-related overdose. My follow-up question to them is usually: “How did it begin?” Almost every time the answer is the same: the individual experienced acute pain either from a trauma or surgery, was started on opioids…