Navigating Familial Opioid Use Addictions and Socially Complex Situations in the Treatment of Acute and Chronic Inpatient Pain

As evidenced by the recent opioid epidemic, opioid painkillers are highly addictive and thus care teams should evaluate for the possibility of opioid abuse disorders in family members, psychiatric history, and the risk of diversion of medications. Several considerations should be made when prescribing opioids in socially complex situation, including assessing the risk of familial harm and opioid diversion in both the inpatient and outpatient settings, providing resources and treatment options to mitigate risks when present such as naloxone rescue kits and education on Good Samaritan laws, and developing safe contingency plans for patients and their family members.