Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 20, 2026

Author Spotlight: An Efficient Methodology to Confidently Differentiate and Characterize Fentanyl Analogs
Published on: November 8, 2024
Prescriptions Filled Following an Opioid-Related Hospitalization
Sarah Naeger1, Mir M Ali1, Ryan Mutter1
1Dr. Naeger, Dr. Ali, and Dr. Mutter are with the Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Rockville, Maryland. Dr. Mark and Ms. Hughey are with the Department of Behavioral Health and Quality Research, Truven Health Analytics, an IBM company, Bethesda, Maryland. Send correspondence to Dr. Ali (e-mail: mir.ali@samhsa.hhs.gov ).
Objective:
The purpose of this study was to identify patterns of postdischarge prescription fills following an opioid-related hospitalization.
Methods:
Using the 2010-2014 MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters database, this analysis identified the percentage of patients (N=36,719) with an opioid-related inpatient admission who received substance use disorder treatment medications within 30 days of being discharged.
Results:
Thirty-five percent of the sample did not have any prescription fills in the 30-day postdischarge period. Less than a quarter (16.7%) of patients received any FDA-approved opioid dependence medication in the 30 days following discharge. Forty percent of patients in the sample received antidepressants, 15.6% received antipsychotics, 13.9% filled a prescription for a benzodiazepine, and 22.4% filled a prescription for an opioid pain medication.
Conclusions:
More effort is needed to ensure that patients hospitalized for opioid misuse are receiving recommended services.
Related Concept Videos
Opioid Analgesics: Synthetic and Semisynthetic Opioids
Opioid Analgesics: Morphine and Other Natural Cogeners
Prescription, Nonprescription and Orphan Drugs
The misuse and addiction to prescription drugs is a growing problem that can affect people of all age groups, specifically teenagers. This can happen when prescription medications are used in ways not intended by the prescriber, such as taking someone else's prescription or using medication for...
Analgesia and Pain Management
Pharmaceutical Poisoning: Potential Scenarios
Drugs Affecting GI Tract Motility: Opioids as Antidiarrheal Agents
Opioids, widely used antidiarrheal agents, mitigate diarrhea by slowing down...

