An anesthesiologist with nearly 20 years of experience, Dr. Richard Rust serves as a staff anesthesiologist at Northside Anesthesia Services, LLC, in Indianapolis, Indiana. To better serve his patients, Dr. Richard Rust maintains membership to the American Society of Anesthesiologists.

1. ASA Releases Report on
How Parents View Opioid
Effectiveness for Kids
Richard Rust

2. Introduction
• An anesthesiologist with nearly 20 years of experience, Dr. Richard Rust serves
as a staff anesthesiologist at Northside Anesthesia Services, LLC, in Indianapolis,
Indiana. To better serve his patients, Dr. Richard Rust maintains membership to
the American Society of Anesthesiologists.
Committed to securing the future and advancing the practice of anesthesiology,
the American Society of Anesthesiologists is a professional organization with
more than 53,000 members. In 2019, it published a study that addresses how
parents view the effectiveness of opioids for children at a time when reports of
the dangers of opioid addiction fill the news. The nationwide study found more
than 50 percent of parents are concerned their child may become addicted to
opioids, yet almost 66 percent view opioids as superior to nonprescription
medications for managing pain due to a broken bone or surgery.
The study goes on to draw several conclusions about how parents view opioid
usage. First, it reports parents rarely request alternatives to opioids from their
doctors. Second, data shows parents are not aware of the importance of
correctly storing and disposing of opioids. Third, parents are aware of the
importance of communicating the dangers of opioids to children. Last, parents
understand that naloxone, a medication that can save the life of someone
experiencing an overdose, is a valuable resource.