Opioid prescribing history prior to heroin overdose among commercially insured adults.

Background: Since 2010, heroin-related overdoses have risen sharply, coinciding with policies to restrict access to prescription opioids. It is unknown if patients tapered or discontinued off prescription opioids transitioned to riskier heroin use. This study examined opioid prescribing, including long-term opioid therapy (LTOT) and discontinuation, prior to heroin overdose.

Relationship Between Faculty Characteristics and Emotional Exhaustion in a Large Academic Medical Center.

Objective: We evaluated associations between emotional exhaustion (EE), a measure of burnout, among medical school faculty and: demographic and professional characteristics, workplace stressors, coping skills, resilience, sufficient personal time, and depressive symptoms. Respondents completed surveys in November 2017.

Methods: We conducted bivariate and multivariable logistic regression and recycled predictions models to estimate associations between characteristics and probability of EE.

Association of Medicare Part D Benzodiazepine Coverage Expansion With Changes in Fall-Related Injuries and Overdoses Among Medicare Advantage Beneficiaries.

Importance: Benzodiazepines, which are associated with safety-related harms for older adults, were not covered when the US Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit began. Coverage was extended to benzodiazepines in 2013.

Objective: To examine whether the expansion of benzodiazepine coverage among Medicare Advantage (MA) beneficiaries was associated with increases in fall-related injuries or overdoses among older adults.