Did Changes in Controlled Substance Prescribing Licensing Lead to Changes in Opioid Prescribing or Adverse Outcomes?

This study aims to evaluate the impact of three regulations on prescribing patterns, use of the online system to access the Utah Controlled Substances Database (CSD) and adverse drug events in Utah.

Unintentional fatalities because of prescription medications are an increasing problem in Utah and the United States. In response to this crisis of drug-related harm, the state government of Utah has undertaken several regulatory changes including promulgating guidelines for opioid prescribing and mandating that providers register to use the online portal for access to the CSD, a registry of all filled prescriptions for schedule II-V drugs.