Number of opioid prescriptions in EDs reduced by 30%

New CDC data find that the rate of opioid prescriptions for people who went to emergency departments has decreased by 30% between 2006-2017. Here’s what else is in the report:

• Prescribing trends: Opioid prescription rates in EDs increased from 19% between 2006-2007 to nearly 22% by 2011. The rates then decreased to around 15% by 2017, for an overall reduction of around 30%. 
• Opioids prescribed: The most common opioids prescribed, based on 2016-2017 data, were acetaminophen-hydrocodone and tramadol. Acetaminophen-hydrocodone made up more than half of all prescriptions in 2006, before tapering off at around 41% of prescriptions a decade later. 
• Primary diagnoses: Dental pain, stones in the kidneys or urinary tract, fractures, and back pain were among the most common diagnoses for which ED visitors were prescribed opioids.