The opioid epidemic in the U.S. affects millions of lives, and experts know the addiction often starts after opioids are prescribed for pain after surgery.

Researchers at the University of Maryland wanted to know if it makes a difference how doctors counsel their patients about opioid use before surgery.

So, they studied patients who underwent a notoriously painful procedure: ACL repair.

Ashley German was a long snapper at the University of Maryland before she tore her ACL in 2021. Prior to her surgery, she was asked to participate in a study researching whether opioid painkillers are really necessary after surgery.

“They provided details about the study and I was like, ‘Yeah, why not?'” German said.

Researchers took 100 patients and divided them into two groups. The first group was g

See Full Page