Opioid Prescriptions Drop for First Time in Two Decades

After years of relentless growth, the number of opioid prescriptions in the U.S. is finally falling, the first sustained drop since 1996. IMS Health found a 12% decline in opioid prescriptions nationally since a peak in 2012. Symphony Health Solutions reported a drop of about 18% during those years. Opioid prescriptions have fallen in 49 states since 2013, according to IMS.

Experts say the drop shows that doctors have begun heeding warnings about the highly addictive nature of opioids and that federal and state efforts to reduce them are having an effect. However, fewer prescriptions have not yet led to fewer deaths. Fatal overdoses from opioids continue to rise, including those caused by both prescription painkillers and heroin.

Experts differ on how this affects patients. Some say opioid prescribing must be tightened, while others argue that efforts have gone too far and are penalizing patients who take the medicines responsibly and need them for relief.

Read the full article at nytimes.com…