Publications by authors named "Donia Hijaz"
Article Synopsis
- Many adolescents have leftover prescription opioids after surgery, raising concerns about potential misuse and addiction.
- A study involving 103 adolescents found that opioid use while hospitalized is highly correlated with opioid use at home within 90 days post-surgery.
- Key factors influencing outpatient opioid usage included reported pain at discharge and cumulative opioid intake in the 24 and 48 hours leading up to discharge.
Chronic pain and opioid use disorder (OUD) are public health crises and their co-occurrence has led to further complications and public health impacts. Provision of treatments for comorbid chronic pain and OUD is paramount to address these public health crises. Medications for OUD (MOUD) are gold standard treatments for OUD that have also demonstrated benefit in pain management.
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- Families involved in the study expressed concerns about opioid use, particularly fears of overdose and addiction, and sought alternative pain management strategies.
- The research highlighted a balance of trust between adolescents and parents regarding opioid management, with both parties prioritizing safety and expressing a desire for autonomy in medication consumption.
- Participants reported prior knowledge about opioids before surgery, but also indicated a need for clearer, family-centered education on opioid safety to help alleviate their concerns and improve their postoperative experiences.
Background: We aimed to identify factors associated with postoperative prescription opioid use in adolescents.
Methods: Adolescents aged 13-20 years undergoing surgery were prospectively recruited from a children's hospital. Adolescent-parent dyads completed a preoperative survey, measuring clinical and sociodemographic factors, and two postoperative surveys evaluating self-reported opioid use at 30- and 90-days.
Article Synopsis
- Anxiety is linked to the progression of alcohol use disorder (AUD), and this study explores how AUD treatments impact both anxiety symptoms and alcohol consumption over time in individuals with AUD but no anxiety disorders.
- Researchers analyzed data from the COMBINE study involving 865 adults, examining the relationships between anxiety levels and alcohol intake during treatment and follow-up periods.
- Results indicated that higher anxiety levels during treatment were associated with reduced drinking over time, suggesting that addressing anxiety in AUD treatment could be beneficial, even for those without diagnosed anxiety disorders.
Article Synopsis
- Unused prescription opioids after surgery for adolescents can lead to dangers like diversion and poisonings, yet factors influencing safe disposal are unclear.* -
- In a study of 119 parent-adolescent pairs, 76% reported having leftover opioids post-surgery, with 78% not disposing of them safely.* -
- Factors linked to safe disposal included younger patient age, shorter opioid use duration, and the greater number of leftover pills, highlighting the need for better prescribing practices and education.*