Being opioid naive means a person has not chronically received opioids, specifically in the 30 days before an operation or acute event. Opioid naive people are at risk of substance misuse due to overprescription or improper duration of post-op treatment. Understanding whether you're opioid naive and other risk factors can help you avoid life-threatening scenarios.
Researchers have studied the effect of opioid prescriptions on opioid naive clients because of the long-term consequences. Ongoing opioid use can create a tolerance that leads to misuse or addiction. Although it's important to treat pain appropriately, the effects of opioid overprescription can be devastating.