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      Trends in Opioid Analgesic–Prescribing Rates by Specialty, U.S., 2007–2012

      research-article
      , MD, , MD, , PhD, , PharmD, MPH
      American journal of preventive medicine

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          Abstract

          Introduction:

          Opioid analgesic prescriptions are driving trends in drug overdoses, but little is known about prescribing patterns among medical specialties. We conducted this study to examine the opioid-prescribing patterns of the medical specialties over time.

          Methods:

          IMS Health’s National Prescription Audit (NPA) estimated the annual counts of pharmaceutical prescriptions dispensed in the U.S. during 2007–2012. We grouped NPA prescriber specialty data by practice type for ease of analysis, and measured the distribution of total prescriptions and opioid prescriptions by specialty. We calculated the percentage of all prescriptions dispensed that were opioids, and evaluated changes in that rate by specialty during 2007–2012. The analysis was conducted in 2013.

          Results:

          In 2012, U.S. pharmacies and long-term care facilities dispensed 4.2 billion prescriptions, 289 million (6.8%) of which were opioids. Primary care specialties accounted for nearly half of all dispensed opioid prescriptions. The rate of opioid prescribing was highest for specialists in pain medicine (48.6%); surgery (36.5%); and physical medicine/rehabilitation (35.5%). The rate of opioid prescribing rose during 2007–2010 but leveled thereafter as most specialties reduced opioid use. The greatest percentage increase in opioid-prescribing rates during 2007–2012 occurred among physical medicine/rehabilitation specialists (+12.0%). The largest percentage drops in opioid-prescribing rates occurred in emergency medicine (−8.9%) and dentistry (−5.7%).

          Conclusions:

          The data indicate diverging trends in opioid prescribing among medical specialties in the U.S. during 2007–2012. Engaging the medical specialties individually is critical for continued improvement in the safe and effective treatment of pain.

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          Author and article information

          Journal
          8704773
          1656
          Am J Prev Med
          Am J Prev Med
          American journal of preventive medicine
          0749-3797
          1873-2607
          18 June 2018
          18 April 2015
          September 2015
          06 July 2018
          : 49
          : 3
          : 409-413
          Affiliations
          From the Division of Unintentional Injury Prevention (Levy, Paulozzi); Division of Analysis, Research, and Practice Integration (Mack), National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, CDC, Atlanta, Georgia; and the Office of Public Health Strategy and Analysis (Jones), Office of the Commissioner, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland
          Author notes
          Address correspondence to: Benjamin Levy, MD, EIS Officer, Division of Unintentional Injury Prevention, CDC, 4770 Buford Highway MS-F62, Chamblee GA 30341. xew6@ 123456cdc.gov.
          Article
          PMC6034509 PMC6034509 6034509 hhspa975737
          10.1016/j.amepre.2015.02.020
          6034509
          25896191
          cc757173-fae1-4d35-92d4-a410aa5177b2
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