Change in Per Capita Opioid Prescriptions Filled at Retail Pharmacies, 2008–2009 to 2017–2018
Authors: Bradley D. Stein, Erin A. Taylor, Flora Sheng, Andrew W. Dick, Mary Vaiana, Mark Sorbero
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2021)

LettersFebruary 2022Change in Per Capita Opioid Prescriptions Filled at Retail Pharmacies, 2008–2009 to 2017–2018Bradley D. Stein, MD, PhD, Erin A. Taylor, PhD, MSPH, Flora Sheng, MPH, Andrew W. Dick, PhD, Mary Vaiana, PhD, Mark Sorbero, MSBradley D. Stein, MD, PhDRAND Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Erin A. Taylor, PhD, MSPHRAND Corporation, Santa Monica, California, Flora Sheng, MPHRAND Corporation, Arlington, Virginia, Andrew W. Dick, PhDRAND Corporation, Boston, Massachusetts, Mary Vaiana, PhDRAND Corporation, Santa Monica, California, Mark Sorbero, MSRAND Corporation, Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/M21-3042 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail Background: State, federal, and private initiatives have resulted in decreases in the number of persons treated with opioids and the number of opioid prescriptions filled. However, the decline in prescriptions was greater than the decline in total opioid volume (1), and the magnitude of the decline varied by patient age and sex and by prescriber's specialty (2, 3).Objective: To examine changes in total number of opioid prescriptions filled at retail pharmacies by patient, prescriber, and county characteristics over a 10-year period, including the OxyContin (Purdue Pharma) reformulation in 2010 and the prescribing peak in 2011.Methods: Using IQVIA Prescription ...References1. Goldman AH, Johnson DD, Griffis CE, et al. Opioid prescribing in the U.S Military Health System, 2014 to 2018: fewer prescriptions, fewer pills, and shorter treatment duration. Pain. 2021. [PMID: 33872234] doi:10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002313 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. Tucker J, Salas J, Zhang Z, et al. Provider specialty and odds of a new codeine, hydrocodone, oxycodone and tramadol prescription before and after the CDC opioid prescribing guideline publication. Prev Med. 2021;146:106466. [PMID: 33636196] doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2021.106466 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Schieber LZ, Guy GP, Seth P, et al. Variation in adult outpatient opioid prescription dispensing by age and sex - United States, 2008-2018. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2020;69:298-302. [PMID: 32191686] doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm6911a5 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. IQVIA. Real world data and insights. Accessed at www.iqvia.com/solutions/real-world-evidence/real-world-data-and-insights on 13 July 2020. Google Scholar5. Centers for Disease Control Prevention. Drug overdose deaths. Accessed at www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/data/statedeaths.html on 20 May 2020. Google Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: RAND Corporation, Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaRAND Corporation, Santa Monica, CaliforniaRAND Corporation, Arlington, VirginiaRAND Corporation, Boston, MassachusettsAcknowledgment: The authors thank Hilary Peterson, BA, of the RAND Corporation for her feedback and editorial assistance on earlier versions of the manuscript. The authors received no additional compensation beyond their RAND salary. Dr. Stein and Ms. Sheng had full access to all of the data in the study and take responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis.Grant Support: This research was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (R01DA045055 and P50DA046351). The funder had no role in the design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript; or decision to submit the manuscript for publication.Disclosures: Disclosures can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=M21-3042.Reproducible Research Statement: Study protocol: Unavailable. Statistical code: Available upon request from Dr. Stein (e-mail, [email protected]org). Data set: IQVIA data used in the analysis cannot be shared under the data use agreement but can be purchased from IQVIA.Corresponding Author: Bradley D. Stein, MD, PhD, 4570 Fifth Avenue, Suite 600, Pittsburgh, PA 15213; e-mail, [email protected]org.This article was published at Annals.org on 28 December 2021. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byAn Exploratory Analysis of Differential Prescribing of High-Risk Opioids by Insurance Type Among Patients Seen by the Same ClinicianDo Hospital Visit Restrictions Cause Increase in the Doses of Morphine in Terminal Care? Spiritual Pain and Palliative Care in the COVID-19 PandemicCancer pain during an epidemic and a pandemic February 2022Volume 175, Issue 2Page: 299-302KeywordsAfrican American peopleHispanic peopleOpioidsPopulation statisticsPrescription drug abuse ePublished: 28 December 2021 Issue Published: February 2022 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2021 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...