Prescription: Monitoring Programs | Benefits | Patients | Healthcare Providers

Effectiveness of Prescription Monitoring Programs in Reducing Opioid Overdoses

Prescription medicine monitoring programs (PMPs) are being implemented in many American states to control opioid abuse. However, recent studies indicate mixed results regarding their effectiveness in reducing opioid overdoses.

Research Findings on PMPs

Chris Delcher from the University of Florida College of Medicine stated that it is important to assess whether PMPs are truly effective in reducing fatal and non-fatal opioid overdoses. In 2018, a study was published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, which examined thousands of scientific publications.

The study, conducted by researchers from the University of California, Davis, and Columbia University, found that out of the analyzed publications, only 10 linked PMPs to overdose outcomes. Even within those 10 studies, evidence of PMP effectiveness in reducing fatal overdoses was low, leaving researchers with inconclusive results.

Unintentional Outcomes of PMPs

Surprisingly, some studies indicated that PMPs may have inadvertently led to an increase in deaths from heroin overdoses. For example, a 2013 study in Philadelphia and San Francisco found that as access to prescription opioids became more restricted, many users transitioned to heroin due to its lower cost and easier availability.

Additionally, in Florida, the implementation of PMPs resulted in a decline in oxycodone overdoses, but there was a simultaneous rise in deaths related to fentanyl, heroin, and morphine. This suggests that reducing access to prescription opioids may drive users to seek other illicit drugs.

Factors That Impact PMP Effectiveness

The study identified three key factors from PMPs that influenced the reduction of fatal overdoses:

• Doctors reviewing patients' medical history before prescribing opioids.
• Frequent updates to patients' prescription data.
• Increased accessibility of patient data to healthcare providers.

Future Improvements for PMPs

Delcher emphasized that improving the effectiveness of PMPs is crucial for addressing the opioid crisis. He suggested refining the monitoring tools to make them more automated and user-friendly for busy healthcare providers. His team is working on enhancing patient risk algorithms, drug dashboards, and data-driven methods to improve the PMP databases.

The Rise of Opioid Overdose Deaths

The opioid overdose epidemic has claimed nearly 1,000 lives between 1999 and 2016. The epidemic has progressed through three distinct phases:

• Phase 1 (1999): The rise in opioid prescriptions, including methadone, natural, and semi-synthetic opioids.
• Phase 2 (2010): A significant increase in overdose deaths due to heroin use.
• Phase 3 (2013): A spike in overdose-related deaths due to fentanyl, often mixed with heroin and cocaine.

The Need for Effective Solutions

Dependence on opioids often starts with a prescription, but when the supply runs out, many individuals turn to illicit drugs. These drugs can have a devastating impact on every aspect of life. Seeking help from a reputable substance abuse clinic is essential to avoid severe consequences.