Physician Prescribing of Opioids to Patients at Increased Risk of Overdose From Benzodiazepine Use in the United States.

Importance: Recent increases in US opioid-related deaths underscore the need to understand drivers of fatal overdose. The initial prescription of opioids represents a critical juncture because it increases the risk of future opioid use disorder and is preventable.

Objective: To examine new opioid prescribing patterns in US patients at increased risk of overdose from benzodiazepine use.