Opioid pain relievers are prescribed twice as often in some states compared to others, according to aMorbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)Surveillance Summary released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Previous studies indicate that this variation is only partially explained by the characteristics of a state’s population, like socioeconomic status, ethnicity, number of available prescribers, and prevalence of medical conditions.
Released in October, the MMWR is the first multi-state report from the Prescription Behavior Surveillance System, which captures data from state prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) and measures prescribing rates of controlled substances. The report is based on 2013 data from eight states: California, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Louisiana, Maine, Ohio, and West Virginia, which represent about one-fourth of the U.S. population. The analysis demonstrates the potential use of state PDMPs to track prescribing patterns of controlled substances, and the results can be used to inform an impactful response to combat the prescription opioid epidemic.
Main Findings
- Opioid pain relievers are prescribed twice as often as other controlled substances, such as antianxiety and insomnia medication.
- The top 10% of prescribers provide half or more of the opioid prescriptions, indicating a potential need for improved prescribing practices.
- Opioid prescribing peaked in the 45 – 54 or the 55 – 64 age groups, and this may be due in part to increasing prevalence of chronic pain with age.
- Women are prescribed opioids and benzodiazepines more often than men, which is consistent with a higher rate of chronic pain and anxiety disorders among women.
Learn More
For more details on prescribing practices among the selected states and demographic groups, read the complete MMWR.
Learn more about prescription drug overdose at CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and ControlDrug Overdose website.
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