Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs Are Associated With Sustained Reductions In Opioid Prescribing By Physicians

TLDR

State prescription drug monitoring programs are promising tools to rein in the epidemic of prescription opioid overdose. Future studies are needed to evaluate the policies’ comparative effectiveness. We used data from a national survey to assess the effects of these programs on the prescribing of opioid analgesics and other pain medications in ambulatory care settings at the point of care in twenty‑four states from 2001 to 2010. Implementation of prescription drug monitoring programs was linked to a >30% drop in Schedule II opioid prescribing that began immediately after launch and persisted through years two and three, while overall opioid and non‑opioid analgesic prescribing changes were modest; continued program use and new policies likely sustained this effect.

Abstract

State prescription drug monitoring programs are promising tools to rein in the epidemic of prescription opioid overdose. We used data from a national survey to assess the effects of these programs on the prescribing of opioid analgesics and other pain medications in ambulatory care settings at the point of care in twenty-four states from 2001 to 2010. We found that the implementation of a prescription drug monitoring program was associated with more than a 30 percent reduction in the rate of prescribing of Schedule II opioids. This reduction was seen immediately following the launch of the program and was maintained in the second and third years afterward. Effects on overall opioid prescribing and prescribing of non-opioid analgesics were limited. Increased use of these programs and the adoption of new policies and practices governing their use may have contributed to sustained effectiveness. Future studies are needed to evaluate the policies’ comparative effectiveness.