Abstract
Objective: To determine the association between prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) implementation and emergency department (ED) visits involving opioid analgesics. Methods: Rates of ED visits involving opioid analgesics per 100,000 residents were estimated from the Drug Abuse Warning Network dataset for 11 geographically diverse metropolitan areas in the United States on a quarterly basis from 2004 to 2011. Generalized estimating equations assessed whether implementation of a prescriber-accessible PDMP was associated with a difference in ED visits involving opioid analgesics. Models were adjusted for calendar quarter, metropolitan area, metropolitan area-specific linear time trends, and unemployment rate. Results: Rates of ED visits involving opioid analgesics increased in all metropolitan areas. PDMP implementation was not associated with a difference in ED visits involving opioid analgesics (mean difference of 0.8 visits [95% CI: -3.7 to 5.2] per 100,000 residents per quarter). Conclusions: During 2004-2011, PDMP implementation was not associated with a change in opioid-related morbidity, as measured by emergency department visits involving opioid analgesics. Urgent investigation is needed to determine the optimal PDMP structure and capabilities to improve opioid analgesic safety.
Original language | English (US) |
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Article number | 5753 |
Pages (from-to) | 282-288 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Drug and Alcohol Dependence |
Volume | 156 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Nov 1 2015 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Emergency departments
- Opioids
- Prescription drug abuse
- Prescription drug monitoring programs
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Toxicology
- Pharmacology
- Psychiatry and Mental health
- Pharmacology (medical)