Potentially Inappropriate Opioid Prescribing, Overdose, and Mortality in Massachusetts, 2011-2015.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Potentially inappropriate prescribing (PIP) may contribute to opioid overdose.

Objective

To examine the association between PIP and adverse events.

Design

Cohort study.

Participants

Three million seventy-eight thousand thirty-four individuals age ≥ 18, without disseminated cancer, who received prescription opioids between 2011 and 2015.

Main measures

We defined PIP as (a) morphine equivalent dose ≥ 100 mg/day in ≥ 3 months; (b) overlapping opioid and benzodiazepine prescriptions in ≥ 3 months; (c) ≥ 4 opioid prescribers in any quarter; (d) ≥ 4 opioid-dispensing pharmacies in any quarter; (e) cash purchase of prescription opioids on ≥ 3 occasions; and (f) receipt of opioids in 3 consecutive months without a documented pain diagnosis. We used Co

SUBMITTER: Rose AJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6109008 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature