Authors hope findings will 'inform a more cautious approach to decisions around opioid dose tapering'
Relative change from 2016 to 2019 varied from −52.0 percent in Mississippi to −6.9 percent in New Hampshire
At pandemic outset, significant decreases in buprenorphine prescription fills seen for Black, Hispanic patients, but not White patients
Yet, study shows buprenorphine is effective in protecting against overdose in this population
1999 to 2019 saw increase in mortality rates for opioid-only and opioids in combination with other substances
A shift in the age distribution of opioid-related mortality has occurred with the highest rates now observed in younger individuals
Many patients filling buprenorphine prescriptions written by emergency physicians do not subsequently fill prescriptions for the treatment
Past-year use lowest for adolescents and adults aged 50 years and older
Findings also show elevated risk for ADHD with interactions between multiple substances
Thirteen state laws each linked to change of less than 1 percent in proportion of patients receiving any opioid prescription