GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Doctors in The Triad said they are working to find alternatives to treat pain as the opioid crisis is in full swing. 

  • One doctor with Cone Hospital said patients can become addicted following common procedures
  • The Oral Surgery Institute of the Carolinas said it uses a Exparel, a long-lasting anesthetic at the end of procedures
  • Dr. Christopher Durham said the fewer the pills prescribed, the smaller the chance the drug could get into the wrong hand

One doctor with Cone Hospital said patients can become addicted following common procedures. 

"People can actually become addicted to opiates after only a few days of being on opiate therapy. For some people, addiction it can then be a lifelong problem," Dr. Christina Rama said.

The Oral Surgery Institute of the Carolinas said it uses a Exparel, a long-lasting anesthetic at the end of procedures. Dr. Christopher Durham said it allows them to prescribe fewer opioids. 

"Before we used Exparel we would provide patients with maybe 30 to 40 tablets of Hydrocodone or Percocet, but now we typically prescribe somewhere between five tablets and seven. Maybe at the most 10 tablets for even our most painful procedures," Durham said. 

He said the fewer the pills prescribed, the smaller the chance the drug could get into the wrong hands. 

"If you prescribe fewer medications and you use alternative means to manage pain, you don't have that medicine floating around in the general population. Overtime, you will see less opioid addiction and dependence," Durham said. 

He said looking for alternatives is a practice all physicians should make a priority.