![Scientific American | jsmith/Getty](https://ifp.nyu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/1-149.jpg)
Scientific American | jsmith/Getty
From 2016 to 2020, the annual rate for patients leaving “against medical advice” after they are admitted to hospitals with opioid use disorder from over 30 states increased from approximately 9 to 17 percent. In contrast, the rate for all nonopioid admissions remained around 1 percent during that time period. These discharges can be deadly and expensive. They are associated with twice the odds of all-cause death and hospital readmission within 30 days.