Drug Alcohol Depend

BackgroundThe purpose of this study is to determine whether Ohio House Bill 341, which mandated the use of Ohio\u2019s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP), was an effective regulatory strategy to reduce opioid and benzodiazepine dispensing.MethodSecondary analysis of Ohio\u2019s PDMP data on prescription opioids and benzodiazepines dispensed from November 2014 to March 2017. An interrupted time series analysis was conducted to determine if there was a significant change in the quantity of opioids and benzodiazepines dispensed.ResultsAfter HB341 became effective in April 2015, there was a statistically significant decrease in the monthly quantity (number of pills) opioids and benzodiazepines dispensed in Ohio. There was a modest increase in the mean days\u2019 supply of opioids and no change in the mean morphine equivalent dose.ConclusionsLegislation in Ohio requiring prescribers to check the PDMP was effective in reducing the quantity of opioids and benzodiazepines dispensed.20182019-05-21T00:00:00ZU17 CE002738/CE/NCIPC CDC HHS/United StatesU54 GM104942/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/United States29778769PMC6528173689