Patients With Two Prescription Drug Refills More Likely to Become Long-Term Users
New research has pinpointed the number of prescription refills it can take to tip the scales and push a patient to become a long-term opioid user.
A study done at the Oregon Health and Science University found that patients who received two or more opioid refills were more likely to become long-term users.
In total, 3.6 million opioid prescriptions were examined and it was found that patients who received two prescription fills compared to only one were 2.25 times higher to become long-term users. It was also 2.96 times higher for those initially receiving between 400-799 morphine milligram dosages within 30 days, compared to patients with lower doses.
“…we are dealing with risky drugs, not risky patients.” – Richard Deyo
Lead researcher for the study, Richard Deyo, suggests that clinicians should put a greater value on attention to high-risk prescribing. Prescribers in the United States write nearly 100 percent of opioid prescriptions worldwide, and in California alone more than 1 billion dosage units of hydrocodone combination products were dispensed in the 2013-14 fiscal year.
Furthermore, opioid use and deaths attributed to abuse are sharply on the rise. This is causing government agencies and public health advocates to look for tools that might help turn the tide.
CDA Journal, Vol 44, October 2016
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