90% or more of people undergoing total knee or hip replacement in 2017 received a prescription.<br />The prescription was for opioid pain relievers within 60 days of surgery, reports UPI.<br />This is up from 82% three years earlier, an 8% difference.<br />This increase occurred despite efforts to discourage opioid use because of the risk of addiction.<br />The dramatic increase persists in the face of myriad government and health system policies.<br />Many guidelines are aimed at reducing opioid over-prescribing but it doesn't seem to curb it.
