Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Prescribing, Prescription Monitoring, and Health Policy

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Treating Opioid Addiction

Part of the book series: Current Clinical Psychiatry ((CCPSY))

  • 1454 Accesses

Abstract

While the United States experienced a surge in morbidity and mortality associated with opioid prescriptions after the year 2000, the country has since 2011 been mired in a growing crisis of overdose and addiction in which illicit opioids play a central role. The drastic increase in persons with prescription opioid use, misuse, and opioid use disorder prompted myriad public health and clinical interventions to curtail opioid-related harms. These approaches can be classified into three main categories: (1) curtailing opioid prescribing, (2) monitoring opioid prescribing, and (3) myriad public policies and initiatives to mitigate and treat opioid use, misuse, and opioid use disorder. Since many persons with opioid use disorder started with potentially prescribed opioids, efforts to curtail and control opioid prescriptions emerged as a primary policy response to address opioid-related morbidity and mortality in the United States. Central to these efforts were the landmark “CDC Guideline on Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain” issued by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2016. To monitor patients’ receipt of controlled substances, Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs) emerged. PDMPs capture patient-level prescription fill information to inform prescribing and dispensing decisions, and possibly to support clinical intervention. Today, major initiatives are in place to promote treatment of persons with opioid use disorder and to reduce the harm associated with opioid misuse. These include the promotion of medication treatment for opioid use disorder, community and regional interventions to reduce the harm of opioid misuse, and national legislation (e.g., Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act) to improve funding for addiction treatment. As the “opioid epidemic” shifts during its evolution to an “opioid addiction epidemic,” these strategies hold promise to reduce, protect, and improve the health of communities.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. SAMHSA. Key substance use and mental health indicators in the United States: results from the 2017 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (HHS Publication No. SMA 18-5068, NSDUH Series H-53). Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality: Rockville; 2018. Available from: https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/cbhsq-reports/NSDUHFFR2017/NSDUHFFR2017.pdf.

    Google Scholar 

  2. SAMHSA. Results from the 2015 National Survey on drug use and health: detailed tables. Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Rockville; 2015. Available from: https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/NSDUH-DetTabs-2015/NSDUH-DetTabs-2015/NSDUH-DetTabs-2015.pdf.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Rudd RA, Aleshire N, Zibbell JE, Gladden RM. Increases in drug and opioid overdose deaths – United States, 2000-2014. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2016;64(50–51):1378–82.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Gallagher BK, Shin Y, Roohan P. Opioid prescriptions among women of reproductive age enrolled in Medicaid – New York, 2008-2013. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2016;65(16):415–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Rudd RA, Seth P, David F, Scholl L. Increases in drug and opioid-involved overdose deaths – United States, 2010-2015. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2016;65(50–51):1445–52.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. 2017 National Survey on drug use and health: detailed tables. Rockville: United States Department of Health and Human Services; 2018. Available from: https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/cbhsq-reports/NSDUHDetailedTabs2017/NSDUHDetailedTabs2017.pdf.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Dowell D, Noonan RK, Houry D. Underlying factors in drug overdose deaths. JAMA. 2017;318(23):2295–6.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  8. Hannah HA, Arambula K, Ereman R, Harris D, Torres A, Willis M. Using local toxicology data for drug overdose mortality surveillance. Online J Public Health Inform. 2017;9(1):e143.

    Article  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  9. Darke S. Heroin overdose. Addiction. 2016;111:2060–3.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Gladden RMMP, Seth P. Fentanyl law enforcement submissions and increases in synthetic opioid–involved overdose deaths — 27 states, 2013–2014. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2016;65(33):837–43.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Bharel M. An assessment of opioid-related deaths in Massachusetts (2013–2014). Boston: Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Published September 15, 2016. http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/gov/departments/dph/stop-addiction/chapter-55-overdoseassessment.html. 159. DEA Philadelphia Field Division.

  12. SAMHSA. Results from the 2016 National Survey on drug use and health: detailed tables. Rockville: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration; 2017. Available from: https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/NSDUH-DetTabs-2016/NSDUH-DetTabs-2016.pdf.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Oliva EM, Midboe AM, Lewis ET, Henderson PT, Dalton AL, Im JJ, et al. Sex differences in chronic pain management practices for patients receiving opioids from the Veterans Health Administration. Pain Med. 2015;16(1):112–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Seth P, Scholl L, Rudd R, Bacon S. Overdose deaths involving opioids, cocaine, and psychostimulants-United States, 2015-2016. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2018;67(12):349–58.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  15. Florence CS, Zhou C, Luo F, Xu L. The economic burden of prescription opioid overdose, abuse, and dependence in the United States, 2013. Med Care. 2016;54(10):901–6.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  16. Cicero TJ, Ellis MS, Kasper ZA. Increased use of heroin as an initiating opioid of abuse. Addict Behav. 2017;74:63–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Muhuri PK, Gfroerer JC, Davies MC. Associations of nonmedical pain reliever use and initiation of heroin use in the United States. Washington, DC: Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality; 2013. Available from: https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/DR006/DR006/nonmedical-pain-reliever-use-2013.htm.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Mack KA, Jones CM, Paulozzi LJ. Vital signs: overdoses of prescription opioid pain relievers and other drugs among women – United States, 1999-2010. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2013;62(26):537.

    PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  19. Nahin RL. Estimates of pain prevalence and severity in adults: United States, 2012. J Pain. 2015;16(8):769–80.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  20. National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Division of Unintentional Injury Prevention; Prescription Painkiller Overdoses. 2013. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/vitalsigns/prescriptionpainkilleroverdoses/index.html.

  21. Utah Department of Health Status update: prescribing practices in Utah. 2016. Available from: https://ibis.health.utah.gov/pdf/opha/publication/hsu/2016/1611_Prescribing.pdf.

  22. Center for Substance Abuse Treatment. Substance abuse treatment: addressing the specific needs of women. Rockville (MD): Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US); 2009. Report No.: (SMA) 09–4426.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Saha TD, Kerridge BT, Goldstein RB, Chou SP, Zhang H, Jung J, et al. Nonmedical prescription opioid use and DSM-5 nonmedical prescription opioid use disorder in the United States. J Clin Psychiatry. 2016;77(6):772–80.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  24. Martins SS, Sarvet A, Santaella-Tenorio J, Saha T, Grant BF, Hasin DS. Changes in US lifetime heroin use and heroin use disorder: prevalence from the 2001-2002 to 2012-2013 National Epidemiologic Survey on alcohol and related conditions. JAMA Psychiat. 2017;74(5):445–55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. 2016 National Survey on drug use and health: detailed tables. Rockville: United States Department of Health and Human Services; 2017. Available from: www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/NSDUH-DetTabs-2016/NSDUH-DetTabs-2016.pdf.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Patrick SW, Dudley J, Martin PR, Harrell FE, Warren MD, Hartmann KE, et al. Prescription opioid epidemic and infant outcomes. Pediatrics. 2015;135(5):842–50.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  27. Haight SC, Ko JY, Tong VT, Bohm MK, Callaghan WM. Opioid use disorder documented at delivery hospitalization – United States, 1999-2014. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2018;67(31):845–9.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  28. Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Vital signs: overdoses of prescription opioid pain relievers-United States, 1999-2008. MMWR. 2011;60(43):1487–92.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Kertesz SG, Gordon AJ. A crisis of opioids and the limits of prescription control: United States. Addiction. 2019 Jan;114(1):169–80.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Lembke A. Drug dealer, MD: how doctors were duped, patients got hooked, and why it’s so hard to stop. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press; 2016. . xi,. p. 172.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Becker WC, Fiellin DA. Limited evidence, faulty reasoning, and potential for a global opioid crisis. BMJ. 2017;358:j3115.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Kolodny A. Crooked doctors are not fueling the opioid epidemic. New York Times. 2016 October 5; Sect. February 17, 2016. Available from: https://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2016/02/17/prosecuting-doctors-in-prescription-drug-overdose-deaths/crooked-doctors-are-not-fueling-the-opioid-epidemic.

  33. Hoffman J. Can this judge solve the opioid crisis? New York Times. 2018 March 5. Available from: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/03/05/health/opioid-crisis-judge-lawsuits.html.

  34. Van Zee A. The promotion and marketing of oxycontin: commercial triumph, public health tragedy. Am J Public Health. 2009;99(2):221–7.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  35. Baker DW. History of the Joint Commission’s pain standards: lessons for today’s prescription opioid epidemic. JAMA. 2017;317(11):1117–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. American Pain Society Quality of Care Committee. Quality improvement guidelines for the treatment of acute pain and cancer pain. American Pain Society Quality of Care Committee. JAMA. 1995;274(23):1874–80.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Schatman ME. The demise of interdisciplinary chronic pain management and its relationship to the scourge of prescription opioid diversion and abuse. Oxford Medicine Online: Prescription Drug Diversion and Pain: History, Policy, and Treatment: Oxford University Press; 2018.

    Google Scholar 

  38. Kolodny A, Frieden TR. Ten steps the Federal Government should take now to reverse the opioid addiction epidemic. JAMA. 2017;318(16):1537–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Schuchat A, Houry D, Guy GP Jr. New data on opioid use and prescribing in the United States. JAMA. 2017;318(5):425–6.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  40. Krebs EE, Gravely A, Nugent S, Jensen AC, DeRonne B, Goldsmith ES, et al. Effect of opioid vs nonopioid medications on pain-related function in patients with chronic back pain or hip or knee osteoarthritis pain: the SPACE randomized clinical trial. JAMA. 2018;319(9):872–82.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  41. Chou R, Turner JA, Devine EB, Hansen RN, Sullivan SD, Blazina I, et al. The effectiveness and risks of long-term opioid therapy for chronic pain: a systematic review for a National Institutes of Health Pathways to Prevention Workshop. Ann Intern Med. 2015;162(4):276–86.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Frank JW, Lovejoy TI, Becker WC, Morasco BJ, Koenig CJ, Hoffecker L, et al. Patient outcomes in dose reduction or discontinuation of long-term opioid therapy: a systematic review. Ann Intern Med. 2017;167(3):181–91.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Weiss RD, Potter JS, Fiellin DA, Byrne M, Connery HS, Dickinson W, et al. Adjunctive counseling during brief and extended buprenorphine-naloxone treatment for prescription opioid dependence: a 2-phase randomized controlled trial. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2011;68(12):1238–46.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  44. Kertesz SG, Gordon AJ. A crisis of opioids and the limits of prescription control: United States. Addiction. 2019;114(1):169–80.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Wilson MC, Hayward RS, Tunis SR, Bass EB, Guyatt G. Users’ guides to the Medical Literature. VIII. How to use clinical practice guidelines. B. What are the recommendations and will they help you in caring for your patients? The Evidence-Based Medicine Working Group. JAMA. 1995;274(20):1630–2.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Bucher HC, Weinbacher M, Gyr K. Influence of method of reporting study results on decision of physicians to prescribe drugs to lower cholesterol concentration. BMJ. 1994;309(6957):761–4.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  47. Dowell D, Haegerich TM, Chou R. CDC guideline for prescribing opioids for chronic pain — United States, 2016. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2016;65(1):1–49.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  48. Ziegler S, Schatman M. Pain management, prescription opioid mortality, and the CDC: is the devil in the data? J Pain Res. 2017;10:2489–95.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  49. Gomes T, Mamdani MM, Dhalla IA, Paterson JM, Juurlink DN. Opioid dose and drug-related mortality in patients with nonmalignant pain. Arch Intern Med. 2011;171(7):686–91.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Bohnert AS, Logan JE, Ganoczy D, Dowell D. A detailed exploration into the association of prescribed opioid dosage and overdose deaths among patients with chronic pain. Med Care. 2016;54(5):435–41.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  51. Bohnert ASB, Valenstein M, Bair MJ, Ganoczy D, McCarthy JF, Ilgen MA, et al. Association between opioid prescribing patterns and opioid overdose-related deaths. JAMA. 2011;305(13):1315–21.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Park TW, Saitz R, Ganoczy D, Ilgen MA, Bohnert AS. Benzodiazepine prescribing patterns and deaths from drug overdose among US veterans receiving opioid analgesics: case-cohort study. BMJ. 2015;350:h2698.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  53. Oliva EM, Bowe T, Tavakoli S, Martins S, Lewis ET, Paik M, et al. Development and applications of the Veterans Health Administration’s Stratification Tool for Opioid Risk Mitigation (STORM) to improve opioid safety and prevent overdose and suicide. Psychol Serv. 2017;14(1):34–49.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. Kobus AM, Smith DH, Morasco BJ, Johnson ES, Yang X, Petrik AF, et al. Correlates of higher-dose opioid medication use for low back pain in primary care. J Pain. 2012;13(11):1131–8.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  55. Gurman S. Feds employ data-driven early warning system in opioid fight. AP News. 2018. Available from: https://www.apnews.com/4dd5fcb016c640eea2e983e223c90b0f/Feds-employ-data-driven-early-warning-system-in-opioid-fight.

  56. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Advance notice of methodological changes for Calendar Year (CY) 2018 for Medicare Advantage (MA) capitation rates, part C and part D payment policies and 2018 call letter. Washington, DC: United States Department of Health and Human Services; 2017. Available from: https://www.cms.gov/medicare/health-plans/medicareadvtgspecratestats/downloads/advance2019part2.pdf.

    Google Scholar 

  57. CVSHealth. CVS Health responds to the Nation’s Opioid Crisis 2017. Available from: https://cvshealth.com/thought-leadership/cvs-health-enterprise-response-opioid-epidemic/cvs-health-responds-to-nations-opioid-crisis.

  58. Dowell D, Haegerich TM. Changing the conversation about opioid tapering. Ann Intern Med. 2017;167(3):208–9.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  59. National Committee for Quality Assurance. NCQA updates quality measures for HEDIS 2018. Washington, DC: National Committee for Quality Assurance; 2017. Available from: https://www.ncqa.org/news/ncqa-updates-quality-measures-for-hedis-2018/.

    Google Scholar 

  60. Office for Diversion Control. Pharmacist’s manual: an informational outline of the controlled substances act. Washington, DC: United States Drug Enforcement Agency; 2010. Available from: https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/pubs/manuals/pharm2/pharm_manual.pdf.

    Google Scholar 

  61. Coalition of Sixteen Stakeholder Organizations. Stakeholders’ Challenges and Red Flag Warning Signs Related to Prescribing and Dispensing Controlled Substances. Mount Prospect: National Association of Boards of Pharmacy; 2015. Available from: https://nabp.pharmacy/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Red-Flags-Controlled-Substances-03-2015.pdf.

  62. Hall SM, Block S, Kocoras P, Steinwascher BK. INSIGHT: DOJ Opioid Warning Letters—Legitimate Law Enforcement Purpose or Prosecutorial Overreach? 2019 February 4. Available from: https://news.bloomberglaw.com/health-law-and-business/insight-doj-opioid-warning-letters-legitimate-law-enforcement-purpose-or-prosecutorial-overreach.

  63. Zezima K. With drug overdoses soaring, states limit the length of painkiller prescriptions. Washington Post. 2017 August 9. Available from: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/with-drug-overdoses-soaring-states-limit-the-length-of-painkiller-prescriptions/2017/08/09/4d5d7e0c-7d0f-11e7-83c7-5bd5460f0d7e_story.html.

  64. National Conference of State Legislatures. Prescribing Policies: States Confront Opioid Overdose Epidemic. 2017 August. Available from: http://www.ncsl.org/research/health/prescribing-policies-states-confront-opioid-overdose-epidemic.aspx.

  65. St. Amour M. Central Maine patients fear weaning off opioids as they struggle with chronic pain. 2017 January 21. Available from: https://www.centralmaine.com/2017/01/21/central-maine-patients-fear-medication-weaning-as-they-struggle-with-chronic-pain/.

  66. Kertesz SG, Gordon AJ. Strict limits on opioid prescribing risk the ‘inhumane treatment’ of pain patients. STATNews; 2017 February 24. Available from: https://www.statnews.com/2017/02/24/opioids-prescribing-limits-pain-patients/.

  67. Salter J. Express scripts to limit opioids; Doctors Concerned 2017. Updated August 16, 2017. Available from: https://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2017-08-16/express-scripts-to-limit-opioids-doctors-concerned.

  68. Kertesz SG. An opioid quality metric based on dose alone? 80 Professionals Respond to NCQA. Medium.com; 2017. Available from: https://medium.com/@StefanKertesz/an-opioid-quality-metric-based-on-dose-alone-80-professionals-respond-to-ncqa-6f9fbaa2338.

  69. Bohnert ASB, Guy GP Jr, Losby JL. Opioid prescribing in the United States before and after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s 2016 opioid guideline. Ann Intern Med. 2018;169(6):367–75.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  70. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). U.S. prescribing rate maps. Atlanta, GA; 2017 July 31. Contract No.: August 27, 2017. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/maps/rxcounty2016.html.

  71. CDC National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. Annual surveillance report of drug-reported risks and outcomes. Atlanta: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2017.. Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/pdf/pubs/2017-cdc-drug-surveillance-report.pdf.

    Google Scholar 

  72. Dart RC, Severtson SG, Bucher-Bartelson B. Trends in opioid analgesic abuse and mortality in the United States. N Engl J Med. 2015;372(16):1573–4.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  73. Office of Applied Studies Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Results from the 2014 National Survey on drug use and health: detailed tables. Rockville: United States Department of Health and Human Services; 2015. Available from: https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/NSDUH-DetTabs2014/NSDUH-DetTabs2014.pdf.

    Google Scholar 

  74. Szalavitz M. When the cure is worse than the disease. New York Times. 2019 February 9; Sect. Week in Review. Available from: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/09/opinion/sunday/pain-opioids.html.

  75. United States Drug Enforcement Agency. State prescription drug monitoring programs: questions & answers. Washington, DC: Justice USADo; 2016. Available from: https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/faq/rx_monitor.htm.

    Google Scholar 

  76. Thomas CP, Kim M, Nikitin RV, Kreiner P, Clark TW, Carrow GM. Prescriber response to unsolicited prescription drug monitoring program reports in Massachusetts. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf. 2014;23(9):950–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  77. Bao Y, Pan Y, Taylor A, Radakrishnan S, Luo F, Pincus HA, et al. Prescription drug monitoring programs are associated with sustained reductions in opioid prescribing by physicians. Health Aff (Millwood). 2016;35(6):1045–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  78. Dowell D, Zhang K, Noonan RK, Hockenberry JM. Mandatory provider review and pain clinic laws reduce the amounts of opioids prescribed and overdose death rates. Health Aff (Millwood). 2016;35(10):1876–83.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  79. Manasco AT, Griggs C, Leeds R, Langlois BK, Breaud AH, Mitchell PM, et al. Characteristics of state prescription drug monitoring programs: a state-by-state survey. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf. 2016;25(7):847–51.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  80. Ali MM, Dowd WN, Classen T, Mutter R, Novak SP. Prescription drug monitoring programs, nonmedical use of prescription drugs, and heroin use: evidence from the National Survey of drug use and health. Addict Behav. 2017;69:65–77.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  81. Kreiner PW, Strickler GK, Undurraga EA, Torres ME, Nikitin RV, Rogers A. Validation of prescriber risk indicators obtained from prescription drug monitoring program data. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2017;173(Suppl 1):S31–s8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  82. Lin DH, Lucas E, Murimi IB, Jackson K, Baier M, Frattaroli S, et al. Physician attitudes and experiences with Maryland’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP). Addiction. 2017;112(2):311–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  83. Young LD, Kreiner PW, Panas L. Unsolicited reporting to prescribers of opioid analgesics by a state prescription drug monitoring program: an observational study with matched comparison group. Pain Med. 2018;19(7):1396–407.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  84. Moyo P, Simoni-Wastila L, Griffin BA, Onukwugha E, Harrington D, Alexander GC, et al. Impact of Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs) on opioid utilization among Medicare beneficiaries in 10 US states. Addiction. 2017;112(10):1784–96.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  85. Paulozzi LJ, Logan JE, Hall AJ, McKinstry E, Kaplan JA, Crosby AE. A comparison of drug overdose deaths involving methadone and other opioid analgesics in West Virginia. Addiction. 2009;104(9):1541–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  86. Toblin RL, Paulozzi LJ, Logan JE, Hall AJ, Kaplan JA. Mental illness and psychotropic drug use among prescription drug overdose deaths: a medical examiner chart review. J Clin Psychiatry. 2010;71(4):491–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  87. Wilsey BL, Fishman SM, Gilson AM, Casamalhuapa C, Baxi H, Zhang H, et al. Profiling multiple provider prescribing of opioids, benzodiazepines, stimulants, and anorectics. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2010;112(1–2):99–106.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  88. Sowa EM, Fellers JC, Raisinghani RS, Santa Cruz MR, Hidalgo PC, Lee MS, et al. Prevalence of substance misuse in new patients in an outpatient psychiatry clinic using a prescription monitoring program. Prim Care Companion CNS Disord. 2014;16(1):PCC.13m01566.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  89. Paulozzi LJ, Strickler GK, Kreiner PW, Koris CM. Controlled substance prescribing patterns – prescription behavior surveillance system, eight states, 2013. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep Surveillance Summaries (Washington, DC: 2002). 2015;64(9):1–14.

    Google Scholar 

  90. Ferries EA, Gilson AM, Aparasu RR, Chen H, Johnson ML, Fleming ML. The prevalence of and factors associated with receiving concurrent controlled substance prescriptions. Subst Use Misuse. 2017;52:1–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  91. Paulozzi LJ, Kilbourne EM, Desai HA. Prescription drug monitoring programs and death rates from drug overdose. Pain Med. 2011;12(5):747–54.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  92. Patrick SW, Fry CE, Jones TF, Buntin MB. Implementation of prescription drug monitoring programs associated with reductions in opioid-related death rates. Health Aff (Millwood). 2016;35(7):1324–32.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  93. Nam YH, Shea DG, Shi Y, Moran JR. State prescription drug monitoring programs and fatal drug overdoses. Am J Manag Care. 2017;23(5):297–303.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  94. Jones JD, Mogali S, Comer SD. Polydrug abuse: a review of opioid and benzodiazepine combination use. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2012;125(1–2):8–18.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  95. Haegerich TM, Paulozzi LJ, Manns BJ, Jones CM. What we know, and don’t know, about the impact of state policy and systems-level interventions on prescription drug overdose. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2014;145:34–47.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  96. Buchmueller TC, Carey C. The effect of prescription drug monitoring programs on opioid utilization in Medicare. Am Econ J Econ Pol. 2018;10(1):77–112.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  97. Wen H, Schackman BR, Aden B, Bao Y. States with prescription drug monitoring mandates saw a reduction in opioids prescribed to Medicaid enrollees. Health Aff. 2017;36(4):733–41.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  98. Oliva EM, Bowe T, Tavakoli S, Martins S, Lewis ET, Paik M, et al. Development and applications of the Veterans Health Administration’s Stratification Tool for Opioid Risk Mitigation (STORM) to improve opioid safety and prevent overdose and suicide. Psychol Serv. 2017;14(1):34–49.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  99. Federation of State Medical Boards. Guidelines for the Chronic Use of Opioid Analgesics. 2017 April. Available from: https://www.fsmb.org/siteassets/advocacy/policies/opioid_guidelines_as_adopted_april-2017_final.pdf.

  100. Alpert A, Powell D, Pacula R. Supply-side drug policy in the presence of substitutes: evidence from the introduction of abuse-deterrent opioids (Working Paper 23031). National Bureau of Economics Research. 2017. Available from: http://www.nber.org/papers/w23031.

  101. Franklin GM, Mai J, Turner J, Sullivan M, Wickizer T, Fulton-Kehoe D. Bending the prescription opioid dosing and mortality curves: impact of the Washington state opioid dosing guideline. Am J Ind Med. 2012;55(4):325–31.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  102. U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Office of Diversion Control. National Forensic Laboratory information system: Year 2016 Annual Report. July 2016. Springfield: U S Drug Enforcement Administration; 2016. Available from: https://www.nflis.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/DesktopModules/ReportDownloads/Reports/NFLIS2016AR.pdf.

    Google Scholar 

  103. Paulozzi LJ, Jones CM, Mack KA, Rudd RA. Vital signs: overdoses of prescription opioid pain relievers – United States, 1999–2008. Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2011;60(43):1487–92.

    Google Scholar 

  104. Oliva EM, Christopher ML, Wells D, Bounthavong M, Harvey M, Himstreet J, et al. Opioid overdose education and naloxone distribution: development of the Veterans Health Administration’s national program. J Am Pharm Assoc (2003). 2017;57(2S):S168–S79 e4.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  105. Walley AY, Xuan Z, Hackman HH, Quinn E, Doe-Simkins M, Sorensen-Alawad A, et al. Opioid overdose rates and implementation of overdose education and nasal naloxone distribution in Massachusetts: interrupted time series analysis. BMJ. 2013;346:f174.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  CAS  Google Scholar 

  106. Tierney M, Finnell DS, Naegle MA, LaBelle C, Gordon AJ. Advanced practice nurses: increasing access to opioid treatment by expanding the pool of qualified buprenorphine prescribers. Subst Abus. 2015;36(4):389–92.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  107. Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016, Pub.L. 114-198; 2015.

    Google Scholar 

  108. Lopez G. I looked for a state that’s taken the opioid epidemic seriously. I found Vermont. Vox.com; 2017 October 31. Available from: https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2017/10/30/16339672/opioid-epidemic-vermont-hub-spoke.

  109. Park TW, Lin LA, Hosanagar A, Kogowski A, Paige K, Bohnert AS. Understanding risk factors for opioid overdose in clinical populations to inform treatment and policy. J Addict Med. 2016;10(6):369–81.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  110. Arizona Department of Health Services: 50 State Review On Opioid Related Policy. 2017. Available from: https://www.azdhs.gov/documents/prevention/womens-childrens-health/injury-prevention/opioid-prevention/50-state-review-printer-friendly.pdf.

  111. CO*Re: FDA Expands REMS Training to Include More Opioids, More Health Care Providers. 2018. Available from: http://core-rems.org/fda-expands-rems-training-to-include-more-opioids-more-health-care-providers/.

  112. Winklbaur B, Baewert A, Jagsch R, Rohrmeister K, Metz V, Aeschbach Jachmann C, et al. Association between prenatal tobacco exposure and outcome of neonates born to opioid-maintained mothers. Implications for treatment. Eur Addict Res. 2009;15(3):150–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  113. Minegishi T, Garrido MM, Pizer SD, Frakt AB. Effectiveness of policy and risk targeting for opioid-related risk mitigation: a randomised programme evaluation with stepped-wedge design. BMJ Open. 2018;8(6):e020097.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  114. Chinman M, Gellad WF, McCarthy S, Gordon AJ, Rogal S, Mor MK, et al. Protocol for evaluating the nationwide implementation of the VA Stratification Tool for Opioid Risk Management (STORM). Implement Sci. 2019;14(1):5.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  115. McLellan AT, Carise D, Kleber HD. Can the national addiction treatment infrastructure support the public’s demand for quality care? J Subst Abus Treat. 2003;25(2):117–21.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  116. Wood E, Samet JH, Volkow ND. Physician education in addiction medicine. JAMA. 2013;310(16):1673–4.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  117. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services (N-SSATS): 2016 Data on Substance Abuse Treatment Facilities. Rockville MD; 2017. Contract No.: HHS Publication No. (SMA) 17-5039. Available from: https://www.samhsa.gov/data/sites/default/files/2016_NSSATS.pdf.

  118. National Institute on Drug Abuse. Effective treatments for opioid addiction. Washington, DC: National Institutes of Health; 2017. Available from: https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/effective-treatments-opioid-addiction/effective-treatments-opioid-addiction.

    Google Scholar 

  119. American Society of Addiction Medicine. The ASAM practice guideline for use of medications in the treatment of addiction involving opioid use. Chevy Chase, MD; 2015 June 1. Available from: https://www.asam.org/docs/default-source/practice-support/guidelines-and-consensus-docs/asam-national-practice-guideline-supplement.pdf.

  120. Gordon AJ, Lo-Ciganic WH, Cochran G, Gellad WF, Cathers T, Kelley D, et al. Patterns and quality of buprenorphine opioid agonist treatment in a large medicaid program. J Addict Med. 2015;9(6):470–7.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  121. Mattick RP, Breen C, Kimber J, Davoli M. Buprenorphine maintenance versus placebo or methadone maintenance for opioid dependence. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2014;2:CD002207.

    Google Scholar 

  122. Volkow ND, Frieden TR, Hyde PS, Cha SS. Medication-assisted therapies – tackling the opioid-overdose epidemic. N Engl J Med. 2014;370(22):2063–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  123. Volkow ND, Collins FS. The role of science in addressing the opioid crisis. N Engl J Med. 2017;377(4):391–4.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  124. Thomas CP, Fullerton CA, Kim M, Montejano L, Lyman DR, Dougherty RH, et al. Medication-assisted treatment with buprenorphine: assessing the evidence. Psychiatr Serv. 2014;65(2):158–70.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  125. Clausen T, Anchersen K, Waal H. Mortality prior to, during and after opioid maintenance treatment (OMT): a national prospective cross-registry study. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2008;94(1–3):151–7.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  126. Tkacz J, Volpicelli J, Un H, Ruetsch C. Relationship between buprenorphine adherence and health service utilization and costs among opioid dependent patients. J Subst Abus Treat. 2014;46(4):456–62.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  127. Gowing L, Farrell MF, Bornemann R, Sullivan LE, Ali R. Oral substitution treatment of injecting opioid users for prevention of HIV infection. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011;8:CD004145.

    Google Scholar 

  128. Giacomuzzi SM, Ertl M, Kemmler G, Riemer Y, Vigl A. Sublingual buprenorphine and methadone maintenance treatment: a three-year follow-up of quality of life assessment. ScientificWorldJournal. 2005;5:452–68.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  129. Giacomuzzi SM, Riemer Y, Ertl M, Kemmler G, Rossler H, Hinterhuber H, et al. Buprenorphine versus methadone maintenance treatment in an ambulant setting: a health-related quality of life assessment. Addiction. 2003;98(5):693–702.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  130. Ponizovsky AM, Grinshpoon A. Quality of life among heroin users on buprenorphine versus methadone maintenance. Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse. 2007;33(5):631–42.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  131. Ponizovsky AM, Margolis A, Heled L, Rosca P, Radomislensky I, Grinshpoon A. Improved quality of life, clinical, and psychosocial outcomes among heroin-dependent patients on ambulatory buprenorphine maintenance. Subst Use Misuse. 2010;45(1–2):288–313.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  132. Lo-Ciganic WH, Gellad WF, Gordon AJ, Cochran G, Zemaitis MA, Cathers T, et al. Association between trajectories of buprenorphine treatment and emergency department and in-patient utilization. Addiction. 2016;111(5):892–902.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  133. Bentzley BS, Barth KS, Back SE, Aronson G, Book SW. Patient perspectives associated with intended duration of buprenorphine maintenance therapy. J Subst Abus Treat. 2015;56:48–53.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  134. Bentzley BS, Barth KS, Back SE, Book SW. Discontinuation of buprenorphine maintenance therapy: perspectives and outcomes. J Subst Abus Treat. 2015;52:48–57.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  135. Dunn KE, Sigmon SC, Strain EC, Heil SH, Higgins ST. The association between outpatient buprenorphine detoxification duration and clinical treatment outcomes: a review. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2011;119(1–2):1–9.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  136. Degenhardt L, Randall D, Hall W, Law M, Butler T, Burns L. Mortality among clients of a state-wide opioid pharmacotherapy program over 20 years: risk factors and lives saved. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2009;105(1–2):9–15.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  137. Kakko J, Svanborg KD, Kreek MJ, Heilig M. 1-year retention and social function after buprenorphine-assisted relapse prevention treatment for heroin dependence in Sweden: a randomised, placebo-controlled trial. Lancet. 2003;361(9358):662–8.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  138. Final Rule of the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008. 2013. Available from: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2013/11/13/2013-27086/final-rules-under-the-paul-wellstone-and-pete-domenici-mental-health-parity-and-addiction-equity-act.

  139. Burns RM, Pacula RL, Bauhoff S, Gordon AJ, Hendrikson H, Leslie DL, et al. Policies related to opioid agonist therapy for opioid use disorders: the evolution of state policies from 2004 to 2013. Subst Abus. 2016;37(1):63–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  140. Fiellin DA, Pantalon MV, Chawarski MC, Moore BA, Sullivan LE, O’Connor PG, et al. Counseling plus buprenorphine-naloxone maintenance therapy for opioid dependence. N Engl J Med. 2006;355(4):365–74.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  141. Weiss RD. Behavioural treatment combined with buprenorphine does not reduce opioid use compared with buprenorphine alone. Evid Based Ment Health. 2014;17(2):e2.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  142. Frank JW, Wakeman SE, Gordon AJ. No end to the crisis without an end to the waiver. Subst Abus. 2018;39(3):263–5.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  143. Fiscella K, Wakeman SE, Beletsky L. Buprenorphine deregulation and mainstreaming treatment for opioid use disorder: X the X Waiver. JAMA Psychiatry. 2018. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2018.3685. (E-Pub ahead of print).

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  144. Mundkur ML, Gordon AJ, Kertesz SG. Will strict limits on opioid prescription duration prevent addiction? Advocating for evidence-based policymaking. Subst Abus. 2017;38(3):237–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  145. Kertesz SG. Turning the tide or riptide? The changing opioid epidemic. Subst Abus. 2017;38(1):3–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Program for Addiction Research, Clinical Care, Knowledge, and Advocacy, Department of Medicine and Psychiatry, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA

    Adam J. Gordon

  2. Department of Internal Medicine, Program for Addiction Research, Clinical Care, Knowledge, and Advocacy, University of Utah, School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA

    Gerald Cochran

  3. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Program for Addiction Research, Clinical Care, Knowledge, and Advocacy, University of Utah, School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, USA

    Marcela C. Smid

  4. SUPeRAD (Substance Use and Pregnancy – Recovery, Addiction, Dependence) Clinic, Salt Lake City, UT, USA

    Marcela C. Smid

  5. Advanced PACT Pain Clinic, Hampton VA Medical Center, Hampton, VA, USA

    Ajay Manhapra

  6. Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, Hampton, VA, USA

    Ajay Manhapra

  7. Birmingham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Birmingham, AL, USA

    Stefan G. Kertesz

  8. Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine, Birmingham, AL, USA

    Stefan G. Kertesz

Authors
  1. Adam J. Gordon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Gerald Cochran
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Marcela C. Smid
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Ajay Manhapra
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Stefan G. Kertesz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Adam J. Gordon .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Elizabeth R. Spallin Professor of Psychiatry in Addiction Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    John F. Kelly

  2. Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Sarah E. Wakeman

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Gordon, A.J., Cochran, G., Smid, M.C., Manhapra, A., Kertesz, S.G. (2019). Prescribing, Prescription Monitoring, and Health Policy. In: Kelly, J., Wakeman, S. (eds) Treating Opioid Addiction. Current Clinical Psychiatry. Humana, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-16257-3_11

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-16257-3_11

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Humana, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-16256-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-16257-3

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation