Objectives: This study examined dispensing patterns of opioids and the geographic accessibility of outpatient pharmacies that dispense opioids. Methods: A computerized prescription dataset from the State of Michigan was used to extract opioid groups and opioid prescription volume dispensed by each pharmacy in 1997. Based on patient and pharmacy zip codes, the distance (straight line) to dispense a prescription was calculated with a geographic information system. Distance was analyzed by opioid groups and urban/rural areas. Results: Seventeen opioid groups and 206,044 opioid prescriptions were dispensed by 1,915 pharmacies in Michigan. The most frequently dispensed opioids were morphine sulfate (28.8% of total prescriptions) and oxycodone/acetaminophen (22.2%). The prescriptions were highly concentrated in a few pharmacies. While the 20 pharmacies with the largest opioid prescription volume dispensed an average of 2,160 prescriptions, 427 pharmacies dispensed £12 prescriptions in 1997. The largest 20 pharmacies dispensed ³10 opioid groups, but 380 pharmacies dispensed only one opioid group. 37.0% of prescriptions were dispensed by pharmacies within the same zip code of the patient's residence. For the remainder, the average distance to an out-of-zip-code pharmacy was 14.37 miles. Rural patients traveled twice the distance as urban patients (21.04 vs. 10.24 miles). Conclusions: The low dispensing volume of opioids in most pharmacies may increase the distance required for patients to obtain their medications. Pharmacists should assess the needs for pain management medications in each community, and establish an efficient network to obtain needed but infrequently dispensed medications.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to: 1. List the five opioid groups most frequently dispensed by outpatient pharmacies in Michigan. 2. Discuss differences in travel distance to dispense opioid prescriptions between urban and rural patients. 3. Articulate the reasons for assessing the needs of pain management medication to ensure adequate availability in communities.
Keywords: Access and Services, Prescription Drug Use Patterns
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.