Question: Is the risk of opioid-related emergency department visit, hospital admission, or death associated with the prescribed opioid dose and duration of use?

Findings: In this cohort study of 1511 patients who were discharged from an academic hospital, both cumulative opioid use duration of more than 90 days and daily opioid dose higher than 90 morphine milligram equivalents were associated with increased risk of opioid-related adverse events.

Meaning: Results of this study suggest that practitioners need to focus on adjusting pain management strategies for patients who are transitioning from acute postoperative to chronic pain and that policies should limit opioid use duration and doses to minimize opioid-related morbidity.