Contact: Kendi Parvin, 608.442.3748
Kendi.parvin@wismed.org

A report released today by the IQVIA™ Institute for Human Data Science shows a continued decrease in opioid prescriptions dispensed nationally, including a 25.7 percent decline in Wisconsin.

According to the study, Medicine Use and Spending in the U.S.: A Review of 2017 and Outlook to 2022, shows that every state in the nation has shown a significant reduction in opioid prescriptions since 2013, and every state showed a decline in the last year. Wisconsin had the 9 th largest decrease from 2016 to 2017 and the 13 th largest decrease since 2013.

“These data confirm that we are making significant progress in inappropriate opioid prescribing, although there’s still much left to be done,” said Michael McNett, MD, a pain management specialist who serves as chair of the Wisconsin Medical Society’s Opioid Task Force. “We’re particularly pleased that the number of high-dose opioid prescriptions have dropped by approximately 33 percent, although again they’re still far too high.”

High-dose opioid prescriptions are defined as those that include more than 90 morphine milligram equivalents (MME).“I think it’s a real credit to Rep. John Nygren, Gov. Scott Walker and Attorney General Brad Schimel and the many other organizations and individuals who are working together to increase awareness about the dangers of prescribing opioids that we are seeing this turnaround,” said Wisconsin Medical Society Bud Chumbley, MD. “It also demonstrates the benefit of the Medical Examining Board’s Opioid Prescribing Guideline and the added awareness that has been created through related education for prescribers.”

The study, Medicine Use and Spending in the U.S.: A Review of 2017 and Outlook to 2022, is available on the QVIA Institute for Human Data Science: https://www.iqvia.com/institute.

With over 12,500 members dedicated to the best interests of their patients, the Wisconsin Medical Society is the largest association of medical doctors in the state and a trusted source for health policy leadership since 1841.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email