NOSM alumnus leads research study

In a study presented Wednesday at the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress in Boston, researchers from Western University showed that the STOP Narcotics protocol halved the amount of opioids prescribed after two types of outpatient surgery, while still adequately treating most patients’ post-operative pain.

The lead author of the study was Dr. Luke Hartford, a graduate of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine’s MD program who is currently a general surgery resident at Western University.

“By significantly reducing the amount of opioids prescribed, this decreases the exposure risk and potential for misuse of narcotic medication,” said Hartford.