Title: |
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Any Use and "Frequent Use" of Opioids among Adults Aged 65 and Older in 2020-2021, by Socioeconomic Characteristics |
Description: |
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Prescription opioids are commonly used to treat both chronic and acute pain in the United States. However, they are not recommended as first-line treatment for most types of pain due to the serious risks of opioid use disorder (OUD) and overdose. As OUD and opioid overdose deaths continue to be major public health concerns, examining the patterns and trends in the use of prescribed opioids can contribute to efforts to promote safer and more effective treatments for pain management.
This statistical brief presents estimates of prescription fills for opioid medicines by adults aged 65 and older, using data obtained from the 2020-2021 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey Household Component (MEPS-HC). These estimates are an update to the 2018-2019 estimates reported in the previous Statistical Brief #541. Statistical Brief #551 finds that, in 2020-2021, 12.8 percent of adults aged 65 and older, on average, filled at least one outpatient opioid prescription, and 4.4 percent obtained four or more prescription fills during the year. |
Author(s): |
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Asako S. Moriya, PhD and Zhengyi Fang, MS |
Agency: |
|
Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality |
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