NCJ Number
255808
Journal
Mmwr Surveillance Summaries Volume: 69 Issue: 1 Dated: 2020 Pages: 1-14
Date Published
2020
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This article reports the findings and methodology of an analysis of data from the Prescription Behavior Surveillance System (PBSS) for the period 2010-2016 for 11 states to determine the average quarterly percent changes (AQPC) in the rates of opioid prescribing, and possible opioid misuse measures were calculated for each state.
Abstract
The PBSS was created in 2011. Its goal was to track rates of prescribing of controlled substances and possible misuse of such drugs, using data from selected state prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs). PBSS data measure prescribing behaviors for prescription opioids, using multiple measures calculated from PDMP data, including 1) opioid prescribing, 2) average daily opioid dosage, 3) proportion of patients with daily opioid dosages less than or equal to 90 morphine milligram equivalents, 4) overlapping opioid prescriptions, 5) overlapping opioid and benzodiazepine prescriptions, and 6) multiple-provider episodes. The current PBSS analysis for 2010-2016 for 11 states covered approximately 38.0 percent of the U.S. population. The study found that opioid prescribing rates declined in all 11 states during 2010-2016 (range: 14.9 percent to 33.0 percent). Daily dosage declined least (AQPC: -0.4 percent) in Idaho and Maine, and most (AQPC: -1.6 percent) in Florida. The percentage of patients with high daily dosage had AQPCs ranging from -0.4 percent in Idaho to -2.3 percent in Louisiana. Multiple-provider episode rates declined by at least 62 percent in the seven states with available data. Variations in trends across the 11 states might reflect differences in state policies and possible differential effects of similar policies. This study notes that the use of PDMP data from individual states enables a more detailed examination of trends in opioid prescribing behaviors and indicators of possible misuse than is feasible with national commercially available prescription data. Comparison of opioid prescribing trends among states can be used to monitor the temporal association of national or state policy interventions and might help public health policymakers recognize changes in the use or possible misuse of controlled prescription drugs over time and enable prompt intervention through amended or new opioid-related policies. 6 figures, 1 table, and 33 references (publisher abstract modified)