# oPIOIDS: Prevention of Iatrogenic Opioid Dependence after Surgery

> **NIH NIH R01** · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · 2020 · $594,382

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
Morbidity and mortality related to prescription opioids is accelerating in the United States. Existing strategies to
address prescription opioid misuse primarily target the downstream effects of chronic opioid dependence, such
as non-medical prescription opioid and heroin abuse. However, identifying the factors that lead to new opioid
dependence among opioid naïve patients is a critical opportunity to reduce prescription opioid dependence and
unintended diversion. In the United States, the majority of individuals who become opioid dependent receive
their first opioid prescription following surgical procedures (elective surgery, emergent surgery, and trauma);
yet, there are no clinical guidelines to inform appropriate postoperative opioid use. [We hypothesize that
measurable patient factors will predict increased postoperative opioid consumption and that most patients will
be prescribed opioids far in excess of their needs]. We further hypothesize that current opioid prescribing
patterns do not correlate well with patient-reported pain, and are predicated upon surgeon experience and
preferences. [In this context, an intervention that provides personalized data to providers regarding opioid
prescribing and consumption (e.g. type, number of pills, refills) coupled with patient-reported opioid
consumption will reduce inappropriate opioid prescriptions and diversion to unintended users. In this mixed-
methods study, we will examine the patient factors that are associated with postoperative pain and opioid
consumption among a cohort of patients undergoing five common, elective, abdominal procedures.]
[Additionally, we will identify the provider characteristics that underlie the variation in postoperative opioid
prescribing practices, and will design and implement a provider-directed intervention to optimize postoperative
opioid prescribing. To do this, we will leverage the existing infrastructure of the Michigan Surgical Quality
Collaborative program, a state-wide consortium of 73 hospitals that is funded by Blue Cross and Blue Shield
(BCBS) of Michigan.] This clinician-led collaborative quality improvement program engages nearly all providers
who perform major inpatient general and vascular surgery procedures with a robust framework equipped to
collect detailed clinical information, identify best practices and opportunities for improvement, and rapidly
disseminate quality initiatives. Findings from this multifaceted, population-based study will inform patients and
providers regarding the risk of opioid dependence following surgery, and will establish a patient-centered data
infrastructure that yields continuous feedback to providers regarding appropriate opioid prescribing practices.
As the prescription opioid epidemic intensifies, strategies to prevent new opioid dependence have the greatest
potential to reduce opioid-associated morbidity and mortality. This 5-year project will derive the necessary
evidence to inform guidelines regard...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9941072
- **Project number:** 5R01DA042859-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR
- **Principal Investigator:** Chad M Brummett
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $594,382
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-07-01 → 2022-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9941072

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9941072, oPIOIDS: Prevention of Iatrogenic Opioid Dependence after Surgery (5R01DA042859-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9941072. Licensed CC0.

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