We need more opioid-sparing physicians

I commend the call for greater legislative action to address today’s opioid epidemic by Sen. Elizabeth Warren, DMass., and Rep. Elijah Cummings, DMd., in their column “Treat the opioid crisis like the HIV/AIDS epidemic.” But I believe we still need to place greater focus on actually preventing the routine use of opioids in surgical settings.

As an orthopedic surgeon, I have seen how operating rooms have become a gateway to today’s epidemic. Indeed, research indicates that one in 15 of over 70 million post-surgical patients who receive opioids will go on to long-term use. I join a growing number of physicians learning that by using a combination approach of non-opioid medications before, during and after surgery, we can deliver measurably dramatic reduction in opioid use.

We need more opioid-sparing physicians, and related legislation that makes it easier for physicians to access nonopioid pain management medication and overcome reimbursement hurdles. Dr. Scott Sigman, orthopedic surgeon Lowell, Mass.