Final answer:
The question refers to the post-surgical pain management of a patient with an opioid analgesic. Opioid medications like oxycodone and morphine are powerful pain relievers that carry a risk of addiction. Proper postoperative care and patient education are essential to mitigate this risk.
Step-by-step explanation:
The subject in question refers to the discharge of a patient with a 1-week supply of an opioid analgesic for pain management post-abdominal surgery. Opioid analgesics, such as oxycodone, morphine, and codeine, are potent prescription medications used to alleviate moderate to severe pain. However, they have a high potential for addiction and misuse. The crisis of opioid addiction began in the 1990s due to the mass-marketing of these drugs as non-addictive, which was later proven false. The physiological potential for the body to become addicted to opioids can occur in less than a week, which is concerning, especially for patients prescribed these medications post-surgery.
Prescription pain relievers such as oxycodone, morphine, and codeine are essential in postoperative care to manage pain effectively. Health professionals, including the surgeon, nurse, and anesthesia professional, must collaborate to ensure the proper use of these pain relievers while mitigating the risk of addiction. This requires careful patient monitoring and education about the risks and proper usage of analgesic narcotics.