Boston Medical Center researchers analyzed data from Optum and examined almost 3,000 individuals from the available data set.
Annals of Internal Medicine published the study.
Here are five highlights:
1. Of those individuals, 70 percent were prescribed additional opioids by the same clinician who had treated them with pain medications prior to their initial overdose.
2. After two years of follow-up, researchers found patients who continued taking high dosages of prescription painkillers were twice as likely to have another overdose, as opposed to patients who stopped taking the opioids after their initial overdose.
3. The authors noted clinicians may not be aware of when a patient overdoses.
4. In their analysis, researchers outline various ways to improve notifying prescribers of opioid-related overdoses such as strengthening drug monitoring programs through enhanced communication between clinicians and emergency providers.
5. Researchers also recommend implementing a prior authorization policy for patients who overdose by connecting health insurance records and providers.
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