What States Need to Know about the Epidemic

From 1999 to 2013, the amount of painkillers, called opioids, prescribed and sold in the U.S. have nearly quadrupled, and overdose deaths have quadrupled in lock-step. There is wide variation in opioid prescribing between states, and it cannot be explained by state differences in health issues that cause people pain.

Promising Strategies

To help prevent prescription drug overdose, states that can advance the promising strategies below to ensure the health and wellbeing of their residents.

Consider ways to increase use of prescription drug monitoring programs, which are state-run databases that track prescriptions for controlled substances and can help improve painkiller prescribing, inform clinical practice, and protect patients at risk.
Consider policy options relating to pain clinics to reduce prescribing practices that are risky to patients.
Evaluate state data and programs and consider ways to assess Medicaid, workers' compensation programs, and state-run health plans to detect and address inappropriate prescribing of painkillers.
Identify opportunities to increase access to substance abuse treatment and consider expanding first responder access to naloxone, a drug used when people overdose.
Implement and promote evidence-based opioid prescribing standards.
- Work with health care providers and other prescribers to ensure appropriate opioid prescribing.
- Evaluate the impact of state opioid prescribing standards and update them as needed.