Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2020

Advisor

Amber Todd

Abstract

Objective: Most states within the US have implemented a form of a Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has developed a scale to rate each state’s requirements of prescribers use of the PDMP on timely submission of the data and consultation when prescribing opioids. This paper looks at the impact of three levels of PDMP ratings (Green, Yellow, and Red) on opioid prescribing practices and opioid-related overdose death rates in 2015 (prior to PDMP rating) and in 2017. Methods: Data was collected from the CDC Wonder database, a publicly available data set. A one-way ANOVA was run to compare the change in opioid prescribing practices and opioid-related overdose death rates from 2015 to 2017 between the three PDMP rating levels. Results: The one-way ANOVA showed no difference in change in death rate 2015-2017 between PDMP ratings (p-value 0.18). Similarly, the one-way ANOVA showed no difference in change in prescribing rate 2015-2017 between PDMP rating (p-value 0.18). While there was no difference between PDMP ratings, the prescribing rate from 2015 to 2017 overall went down (p-value <0.0001). However, death rate continues to rise (p-value <0.0001). This suggests a positive impact of any form of PDMP on opioid prescribing practices, but the issues surrounding opioid-related deaths are multifactorial requiring many different avenues to affect change on the death rate.

Download


Share

COinS