Veal F, et al. - Researchers examined the prevalence of opioid persistence among opioid-naïve patients following surgery as well as the indication for use via performing a retrospective review of cases undergoing a surgical procedure at the Royal Hobart Hospital, Tasmania, Australia, from August to September 2016. They identified 1,015 opioid-naïve patients eligible for inclusion. In 41.7% of admissions, dispensing of Schedule 8 opioids was done at or within 2 days of discharge. Opioids were prescribed 2-months postdischarge in 3.9% patients; 1.8% of the patients were approved by State Health to receive Schedule 8 opioids regularly for a chronic condition at 6 months; infrequent or one-off prescriptions for Schedule 8 opioids was provided at 6 months in 1.3%. A low rate of Schedule 8 opioid persistence was thus observed after surgery. This suggests no significant driving effect of postsurgical pain for persistent opioid use.