Santosa KB, et al. - Given the identified significance of new persistent opioid use and high-risk prescribing as a postoperative complications among younger patients (18–64 years of age), researchers examined the incidence for postoperative opioid use among older patients (>65 years of age). Analyzing a 20% national sample of Medicare Part D claims among beneficiaries >65 years of age who underwent a major or minor surgical procedure, they included 81,839 opioid naïve patients who underwent surgery and filled an opioid prescription perioperatively. Outcomes revealed the development of new persistent opioid use in about 10% of Medicare beneficiaries who were previously opioid naïve. New persistent opioid use was observed in correlation to major surgery, more comorbid conditions, mood disorders, suicide or self-harm, substance abuse disorders, filling an opioid prescription before surgery, higher amounts of opioids filled, black race, and Medicaid eligibility.