OBJECTIVES: We quantify patterns in prescription opioid dispensations to individuals who suffered a prescription opioid-related @entity204 . In addition, we examine the relationship between opioid dispensations and prescription opioid-related @entity204 in geographic regions of British Columbia (BC). METHODS: We used population-based administrative data on prescription drug dispensations to identify patterns in prescription opioid dispensations to individuals who suffered a prescription opioid-related @entity204 . We also computed the quantity of prescription opioids dispensed ( @entity1286 equivalents) in small geographic regions in BC from 2004 to 2013. We identified prescription opioid-related @entity204 in these small geographic areas using mortality data from BC Vital Statistics and investigated the relationship between rates of prescription opioid dispensing and rates of prescription @entity204 in small geographic areas in BC by sex. We examined differences in our results when limiting opioid dispensations to strong opioids and weak opioids. RESULTS: Many individuals who suffered a prescription opioid-related @entity204 did not have an active opioid prescription in the 60 days before @entity204 (46% of @entity1 and 71% of @entity1 ). Rates of prescription opioid dispensing and opioid-related @entity204 vary substantially across geographic regions in BC. The area-level relationship between rate of prescription opioid dispensing and rate of unintentional prescription opioid-related @entity204 is positive and statistically significant for both @entity1 and @entity1 (P<0.001). This relationship holds when opioid prescribing is limited to strong opioids. CONCLUSION: Targeted efforts to reduce high levels of opioid prescribing in BC, particularly dispensations of strong opioids and @entity10425 , may substantially reduce opioid-related harms.

Geographic Variations in Prescription Opioid Dispensations and Deaths Among @entity1 and XXXX in British Columbia, Canada.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['men', 'women'] @entity204 :: ('MESH:D003643', 'Disease') :: ['deaths', 'opioid death', 'death'] @entity10425 :: ('MESH:D003061', 'Chemical') :: ['codeine'] @entity1286 :: ('MESH:D009020', 'Chemical') :: ['morphine']
@entity1 :: (9606,Species) :: ['Men']
