Opioid prescriptions continue to drop in Ohio, report finds

Ohio doctors and pharmacists cut back the number of prescription opioids they dispensed last year, a move that continues a large-scale drop in the number of painkillers distributed across the state (Source: “Ohio doctors, pharmacists cut back on the dispensing of prescription opioids in 2021, continuing a yearslong trend,” Cleveland Plain Dealer,  Jan. 17).

Ten years after the peak of the prescription opioid crisis hit, medical providers have sharply reduced the number of pills that reach consumers. Healthcare providers across Ohio distributed 334 million opioid pills last year, nearly a 60% drop from the 793 million in 2012, according to figures released this week by the Ohio Board of Pharmacy. The numbers are based on the board’s statewide reporting system that tracks prescriptions.

Despite the drop in opioid prescriptions, the number of Ohioans who died from an overdose rose 54% from 2015 to 2020, according to an HPIO fact sheet titled “Refocusing Ohio’s Approach to Overdose Deaths.” The primary reason appears to be the increased presence of synthetic opioids (such as fentanyl and carfentanil) in the drug supply. Since 2016, fentanyl and related drugs have been the most common drugs present in unintentional overdose deaths in Ohio.