Compared to Distribution

an indicator guage with the arrow in the green the value is in the best half of communities.

an indicator guage with the arrow in the yellow the value is in the 2nd worst quarter of communities.

an indicator guage with the arrow in the red the value is in the worst quarter of communities.

Compared to Target

green circle with white tick inside it meets target; red circle with white cross inside it does not meet target.

Compared to a Single Value

green diamond with downward arrow inside it lower than the comparison value; red diamond with downward arrow inside it higher than the comparison value; blue diamond with downward arrow inside it not statistically different from comparison value.

Trend

green square outline with upward trending arrow inside it green square outline with downward trending arrow inside it non-significant change over time; green square with upward trending arrow inside it green square with downward trending arrow inside it significant change over time; blue square with equals sign no change over time.

Compared to Prior Value

green triangle with upward trending arrow inside it higher than the previous measurement period; green triangle with downward trending arrow inside it lower than the previous measurement period; blue equals sign no statistically different change from previous measurement period.

green chart bars Significantly better than the overall value

red chart bars Significantly worse than the overall value

light blue chart bars No significant difference with the overall value

gray chart bars No data on significance available

Opioid Prescriptions (≥90 Morphine Milligram Equivalents) Dispensed

Measurement Period: 2021

This indicator shows the rate of opioid prescriptions dispensed per 1,000 population that are greater than or equal to 90 morphine milligram equivalents (MME).

Why is this important?

Opioids are a class of drug that are used to reduce pain. Opioids include prescription drugs such as oxycodone and morphine, illegal drugs such as heroin, as well as synthetic opioids such as fentanyl. Opioid use and abuse are a serious public health issue but preventative actions such as limiting the number of opioid prescriptions, providing naloxone with an opioid prescription, and more are key in reducing morbidity and mortality due to opioid use and abuse.

Morphine milligram equivalents (MME) is an equivalency measurement used as a gauge of the overdose potential of the amount of opioid being given at a particular time. Based on CDC recommendations, patients are advised to not exceed over 90 MME/day in opioid prescriptions.

Nationally, the majority of overdose deaths involve an opioid and at least half of all overdose deaths involving an opioid involved a prescription opioid. Since 1999, the rate of overdose deaths involving opioids (including prescription opioid pain relievers) has nearly quadrupled. According to the CDC, overdoses involving prescription opioid pain relievers are a driving factor in the increase in opioid overdose deaths.

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