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Beyond opioids: The effect of prescription drug monitoring programs on non‐opioid drug prescribing

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Listed:
  • David Beheshti
  • Bokyung Kim

Abstract

A growing literature has examined how mandatory access prescription drug monitoring programs (MA PDMPs), laws that require providers to consider a patient's prescription history before prescribing controlled substances, affect opioid‐related outcomes. However, evidence of their impact on non‐opioid‐related prescribing is mixed. This paper investigates the effect of MA PDMPs on prescribing patterns of stimulants and benzodiazepines. Using updated difference‐in‐differences methodology, we show that MA PDMPs led to decreases in stimulant prescribing but had no significant effects on benzodiazepine prescribing. Our findings highlight that MA PDMPs do have effects on non‐opioid drug prescribing, but these effects differ substantially across drug types.

Suggested Citation

  • David Beheshti & Bokyung Kim, 2025. "Beyond opioids: The effect of prescription drug monitoring programs on non‐opioid drug prescribing," Contemporary Economic Policy, Western Economic Association International, vol. 43(3), pages 452-469, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:coecpo:v:43:y:2025:i:3:p:452-469
    DOI: 10.1111/coep.12684
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    References listed on IDEAS

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