Prescribed stimulant medications: Trends in the last decade, pre and post COVID-19 response.

Background: Recent studies indicate that COVID-19 has had a significant impact on access and continuity to opioid and benzodiazepine medications; little is known about its effect on access to and utilization of stimulant medications.

Objective: To investigate trends of dispensed stimulant medications in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic response.

Methods: Stimulant prescriptions dispensed during 2011-2021 were analyzed using the Massachusetts Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP), the state's data repository for all controlled substance medications dispensed to residents from retail pharmacies and out of state mail-order pharmacies.

Street-drug lethality index: A novel methodology for predicting unintentional drug overdose fatalities in population research.

Background: Emerging evidence suggests the composition of local illicit drug markets varies over time and the availability and relative lethality of illicit drugs may contribute to temporal trends in overdose mortality. Law enforcement drug seizures represent a unique opportunity to sample the makeup of local drug markets. Prior research has associated shifts in the types of drugs seized and trends in unintentional drug overdose mortality.

Prescriber response to unsolicited prescription drug monitoring program reports in Massachusetts.

Purpose: To describe prescriber response to unsolicited patient reports from the Massachusetts prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP).

Methods: Prescribers were surveyed upon receipt of unsolicited reports of their patients' prescription history and three months later. We assessed prescribers' awareness of other prescribers listed in the report, their clinical assessment of medical necessity of all prescribed medications, actions taken by prescribers after receiving the report, and usefulness of the report.

Medication-assisted treatment with methadone: assessing the evidence.

Objective: Detoxification followed by abstinence has shown little success in reducing illicit opioid use. Methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) helps individuals with an opioid use disorder abstain from or decrease use of illegal or nonmedical opiates. This review examined evidence for MMT's effectiveness.

Medication-assisted treatment with buprenorphine: assessing the evidence.

Objective: Buprenorphine maintenance treatment (BMT) and methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) are pharmacological treatment programs for individuals with opioid use disorders. MMT is discussed in a companion article. This article describes BMT and reviews available research on its efficacy.

Early experience with electronic prescribing of controlled substances in a community setting.

Background: In 2010, the US Drug Enforcement Administration issued regulations allowing electronic prescribing of controlled substances (EPCS), a practice previously prohibited.

Objective: To carry out a survey of the experience of prescribers in the nation's first study of EPCS implementation.

Materials And Methods: Prescribers were surveyed in a community setting before and after implementation of EPCS, to assess adoption, attitudes, and challenges.

Prescribers' expectations and barriers to electronic prescribing of controlled substances.

Objective: To better understand barriers associated with the adoption and use of electronic prescribing of controlled substances (EPCS), a practice recently established by US Drug Enforcement Administration regulation.

Materials And Methods: Prescribers of controlled substances affiliated with a regional health system were surveyed regarding current electronic prescribing (e-prescribing) activities, current prescribing of controlled substances, and expectations and barriers to the adoption of EPCS.

Results: 246 prescribers (response rate of 64%) represented a range of medical specialties, with 43.

Usefulness of prescription monitoring programs for surveillance--analysis of Schedule II opioid prescription data in Massachusetts, 1996-2006.

Purpose: Electronic prescription monitoring programs (PMPs) have been developed in many states as a public health surveillance tool. We analyze herein 11 years of Massachusetts PMP data to evaluate trends in opioid prescribing, dispensing, and usage.

Methods: Prescription records from the Massachusetts PMP for Schedule II opioids from fiscal year 1996 to 2006 were analyzed.

Update on prescription monitoring in clinical practice: a survey study of prescription monitoring program administrators.

Objective: Prescription drug abuse and undertreatment of pain are public health priorities in the United States. Few options to manage these problems are balanced, in simultaneously supporting pain relief and deterring prescription drug abuse. Prescription monitoring programs (PMPs) potentially offer a balanced approach; however, the medical/scientific communities are not well informed about their current status and potential risks/benefits.