New research from the University of Auckland has found there has been an increase of opioid use in older people and patients after surgery. 

Health records for more than 800,000 people over 65 show from 2007 to 2018, there has been an increase in prescriptions. Records show a rate of persistent use of people still using opioids 90 days after surgery at 9.1%. 

Lead Researcher Hoda Fahmy tells Mike Hosking the rate of persistent use is a significant percentage and that not all patients on opioids may need them.  

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