Experience with a Nonopioid Protocol in Ambulatory Breast Surgery: Opioids are Rarely Necessary and Use is Surgeon-Dependent

Surgeons write 1.8% of all prescriptions and 9.8% of all opioid prescriptions. Even small doses prescribed for short-term use can lead to abuse; thus, surgeons are uniquely able to combat the opioid epidemic by changing prescribing practices. As part of a department wide quality improvement project, we initiated a nonopioid protocol for all patients undergoing ambulatory breast surgery