Gen Z is getting a large portion of their opioid Rxs from an unlikely source, the dentist.

(Circa, March 8) About a third of patients between 10 and 19 years old (members of so-called Generation Z) are getting their opioid prescriptions from dentists, according to new guidelines for prescribing opioids.

The guide, created by practicing dentists across the nation, recommends reducing the amount of opioids prescribed to young people.

"For pretty much late teens and early 20s, 24 and under, a large portion of those prescriptions are coming from the dental community. Things like dental extractions are so common,” research professor and one of the authors of the guidelines, Dr. Gary Franklin, said.

“Especially for adolescents up to 24 years of age, you should probably not use opioids at all, and if you have to use opioids, you probably don’t need more than a few pills," said Dr. Franklin. He added that Tylenol and non-steroidals could be used as by patients as an alternative to opioids. Read more.