Understanding Opioid Use Risk in Teens After Surgery

This observational study is looking at how teens (ages 12-17) who receive opioids (pain medication) after surgery might be at risk for developing opioid use disorder. Researchers want to understand what factors lead to this risk within the first year after surgery. They will look at how prolonged pain, continued opioid use, and non-medical use of prescription opioids contribute to this. You could be eligible if you are between 12 and 17 years old and are having surgery where you'll likely need opioids for at least 48 hours afterward. The study aims to identify these risk factors to help doctors create better pain management plans for young people in the future. This study is not testing a new treatment, but rather observing what happens in real-world situations.

Study design
This is an observational study involving 20,000 participants (10,000 adolescents and 10,000 parents). It is not testing a specific intervention.
What's involved
Participants will complete electronic surveys before and after surgery, and allow researchers to collect information from their medical records.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Participants will be followed for 12 months after surgery to assess the risk of opioid use disorder.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT06350409

Adolescent Outcomes of Post-operative Opioid EXposure

Recruiting
Not specifiedAges 12–17Observational
Sharon Levy
~20,000 participants
Updated 2026-03-18 on ClinicalTrials.gov

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 5 listed sites are recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Risk of opioid use disorder due to prolonged pain that develops within the first year after surgery.
Measured over 12 months
+4 more outcomes measured
Opioid Use Disorder
Pain, Chronic
5 sites across 5 states
Colorado1
Florida1
Massachusetts1
Ohio1
Pennsylvania1

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  • Risk of opioid use disorder due to prolonged pain that develops within the first year after surgery.12 months

    The patient self-report an average pain score of more than 3/10 in the last 7 days on the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) at 3 or more months postoperatively.

  • Risk of opioid use disorder due to prolonged opioid use that develops within the first year after surgery.12 months

    Any adolescent self-report or parent report of opioid medication use more than 3 or more months postoperatively.

  • Risk of opioid use disorder due to postoperative non-medical use of prescription opioids (NMUPO) that develops within the first year after surgery.12 monhts

    Any adolescent self-report or parent report of use of opioid medication that is \> than prescribed, or more frequently than prescribed, or not prescribed to the adolescent.

  • Risk of opioid use disorder due to increased rate of change in substance use that develops within the first year after surgery.12 month

    Adolescent self-report of rate of increase of substance use frequency greater than the 75th percentile of an age- and sex-matched cohort compared to nationally representative data

  • Risk of opioid use disorder due to post-surgical trauma that develops within the first year after surgery.12 months

    Adolescent self-report of post-surgical trauma and stress as measured by \>11 on the Child PTSD Symptom Scale (CPSS) 3 or more months postoperatively.