title: Opioid use and dosing in the workers' compensation setting. A comparative review and new data from Ohio.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many authorities are concerned about the rising use and the potential overuse of opioid pain medications. A study of opioid prevalence and dosage in Ohio's workers' compensation (WC) system was conducted, with comparisons made to opioid use in other WC and non-WC settings.
  
  
  METHODS
  Systematic literature reviews of WC and non-WC opioid use and dosage nationally were conducted. Two years of Ohio WC data (2008-2009) were analyzed to determine average daily morphine equivalent dose (MED), opioid costs, pharmacies used per claimant, and extent of long-duration cases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nearly one-fifth (19.2%) of Ohio WC claims involved opioid use, compared to 31.8% in other WC systems and 17.9% in non-WC settings. Mean MED was 57.5 mg, compared to 47.8 mg in other WC systems, and 41.8 mg among non-WC populations. Nearly 10% of WC claims involved relatively high MED exceeding 120 mg/day.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Policy makers need to develop strategies for addressing high opioid use in WC systems.
authors: Division of Health Services Management & Policy,The Ohio State University College of Public Health, 1841 Neil Avenue,Columbus, OH 43210, USA. adembe@cph.osu.edu
authors: Allard
authors: A
authors: Dembe
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Wickizer
authors: Cynthia
authors: C
authors: Sieck
authors: Jamie
authors: J
authors: Partridge
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Balchick
mesh_terms: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000191:economics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics; D009820:Ohio / Q000453:epidemiology; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014942:Workers' Compensation / Q000191:economics* / Q000639:trends
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid