Pdg51 Evaluating Gender Differences in Prescribing Patterns of Opioid Medications in the U.S. From 2006-2015

Abstract

Relative to beneficiaries with unintentional OOD, more individuals with intentional OOD had no opioid prescription in the study period (39.9% vs. 46.8%, p=0.0004). In our adjusted model, the odds of intentional vs. unintentional OOD was lower among beneficiaries age$65 versus age,65 (OR=0.22; 95%CI=0.16-0.30), Black versus White (OR=0.59; 95%CI=0.42-0.82), and with opioid therapy .90 days versus ,90 days (OR=0.65; 95%CI=0.52-0.80). The odds of mental illness diagnosis was almost 5 times higher among intentional vs. unintentional OOD groups (OR=4.86; 95%CI=3.912-6.037). Conclusions: One in ten OOD events among Medicare beneficiaries was intentional. Shorter duration of opioid therapy and mental illness may be associated with increased risk of intentional OOD. Findings suggest interventions aimed at preventing OOD should consider intentionality and include mental health support particularly among beneficiaries with psychiatric disorders.