Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs and Opioid Poisoning: Evaluating the Impact of Prescriber Use Mandates on Prescription Opioid Poisoning Emergency Department Visits

Sarah Al-Manie

Background: Mandatory use of prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) databases by prescribers has been recommended as a way to influence prescription opioid abuse. Methods: this study explored that recommendation by comparing emergency department (ED) visits related to prescription opioid poisoning among individuals ≥ 12 years old in a mandatory use state, Kentucky, with a non-mandatory use state, North Carolina. Data from the State Emergency Department Databases (SEDD) and the State Inpatient databases (SID) were used to identify prescription opioid poisoning ED visits among patients. Main findings: the analysis revealed that the odds of having a prescription opioid poisoning ED visit in the mandated use state of Kentucky were 11% to 35% (95% CI= 6.0% - 39.0%) lower than in North Carolina between 2012 to 2014. Conclusion: this study provides evidence that a prescriber use mandate is effective in reducing prescription opioid poisoning ED visits.