04/04/2019
Prescription Monitoring Program Numbers Show Drop in Opioid, Benzodiazepine Prescriptions in 2018
Thursday, April 4th, 2019 – Today, the Department of Consumer Protection’s (DCP) Drug Control Division announced that in 2018, Connecticut saw a decrease in opioid and benzodiazepine prescriptions compared to previous years. There have also been fewer total prescriptions with a morphine milligram equivalent (MME) of over 90, a level that is designated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as a high risk for overdose. In 2017, 8% of all prescriptions had an MME of over 90, and that went down to 7% in 2018.
Below, you can find the total prescriptions written in Connecticut for opioids and benzodiazepines per year:
|
Year |
Opioid Prescriptions |
Benzodiazepine Prescriptions |
|
2015 |
2,625,042 |
1,667,910 |
|
2016 |
2,510,702 |
1,687,910 |
|
2017 |
2,161,959 |
1,617,171 |
|
2018 |
1,960,988 |
1,532,053 |
“We know that these prescription decreases are only one indicator that we’re making progress in combating the opioid crisis, but we’re pleased that the state is moving forward,” said Consumer Protection Commissioner Michelle H. Seagull, “Our Drug Control Division in conjunction with law enforcement, legislators, and our sister agencies have worked hard to ensure that the public is educated, prescribers are educated, and that we pass and enforce laws that may prevent dangerous prescribing behavior.”
More information about the prescription monitoring program can be found by visiting ct.gov/dcp/pmp.
Prescribers with questions about the prescription monitoring program may email DCP’s Drug Control Division at dcp.pmp@ct.gov.
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Media Contact
Lora Rae Anderson
lorarae.anderson@ct.gov
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