Opioid prescribing history prior to heroin overdose among commercially insured adults.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Since 2010, heroin-related overdoses have risen sharply, coinciding with policies to restrict access to prescription opioids. It is unknown if patients tapered or discontinued off prescription opioids transitioned to riskier heroin use. This study examined opioid prescribing, including long-term opioid therapy (LTOT) and discontinuation, prior to heroin overdose.

Methods

We used retrospective longitudinal data from a national claims database to identify adults with an emergency or inpatient claim for heroin overdose between January 2010 and June 2017. Receipt of opioid prescription, LTOT episodes, and discontinuation of LTOT were measured for the period of one year prior to heroin overdose.

Results

We identified 3183 individuals (53.2% age 18-25; 70.0% male

SUBMITTER: Lagisetty P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7768819 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature