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Increasing benzodiazepine prescriptions and overdose mortality in the United States, 1996-2013

Author

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  • Bachhuber, M.A.
  • Hennessy, S.
  • Cunningham, C.O.
  • Starrels, J.L.

Abstract

Objectives.To describe trends in benzodiazepine prescriptions and overdose mortality involving benzodiazepines among US adults. Methods.We examined data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey and multiplecause-of-death data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Results. Between 1996 and 2013, the percentage of adults filling a benzodiazepine prescription increased from 4.1% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 3.8%, 4.5%) to 5.6% (95% CI = 5.2%, 6.1%), with an annual percent change of 2.5% (95% CI = 2.1%, 3.0%). The quantity of benzodiazepines filled increased from 1.1 (95% CI = 0.9, 1.2) to 3.6 (95% CI = 3.0, 4.2) kilogram lorazepam equivalents per 100 000 adults (annual percent change = 9.0%;95%CI = 7.6%, 10.3%).The overdose death rate increased from 0.58 (95% CI = 0.55, 0.62) to 3.07 (95% CI = 2.99, 3.14) per 100 000 adults, with a plateau seen after 2010. Conclusions. Benzodiazepine prescriptions and overdose mortality have increased considerably. Fatal overdoses involving benzodiazepines have plateaued overall; however, no evidence of decreases was found in any group. Interventions to reduce the use of benzodiazepines or improve their safety are needed.

Suggested Citation

  • Bachhuber, M.A. & Hennessy, S. & Cunningham, C.O. & Starrels, J.L., 2016. "Increasing benzodiazepine prescriptions and overdose mortality in the United States, 1996-2013," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 106(4), pages 686-688.
    • Handle: RePEc:aph:ajpbhl:10.2105/ajph.2016.303061_2
    DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2016.303061
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    Cited by:

    1. Böckerman, Petri & Kortelainen, Mika & Laine, Liisa T. & Nurminen, Mikko & Saxell, Tanja, 2019. "Digital Waste? Unintended Consequences of Health Information Technology," Working Papers 117, VATT Institute for Economic Research.
    2. Alexander Ahammer, 2019. "A novel supply-side measure to combat abuse of addictive prescription drugs," Economics working papers 2019-11, Department of Economics, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Austria.
    3. Dillender, Marcus, 2018. "What happens when the insurer can say no? Assessing prior authorization as a tool to prevent high-risk prescriptions and to lower costs," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 165(C), pages 170-200.

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