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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2020 Jun 1.
Published in final edited form as: Int J Drug Policy. 2019 Apr 11;68:37–45. doi: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2019.03.024

Table 1.

Percent of People with PIP Occurrences and Rates of Fatal Opioid Overdoses per 100,000 population in Massachusetts ZIP Codes, 2011–2015.

Cut Points Excessive MME Dosing Opioid Rx and No Pain Diagnosis Multiple Prescribers Co-Prescription of Opioids and Benzodiazepines Cash Payments for Opioid Rx Multiple Pharmacies Fatal Opioid Overdose Rates per 100,000
Q1: Very Low Rates 0−1.68% 0−1.90% 0−2.35% 0−4.73% 0−4.90% 0−0.49% No Overdoses 0
Q2: Low Rates 1.69−2.39% 1.91−2.48% 2.36−3.13% 4.74−6.00% 5.00−6.10% 0.5−0.74% Below the MA Rate <10.4
Q3: Average Rates 2.4−3.14% 2.49−3.05% 3.14−4.03% 6.01−7.45% 6.20−7.50% 0.75−1.01% >MA and <US Rates 10.4−15.4
Q4: High Rates 3.15−4.87% 3.06−4.12% 4.04−5.94% 7.46−4−10.14% 7.60−11% 1.02−1.43% >US and MA Rates >15.4
Q5: Very High Rates 4.88−24% 4.13−18.45% 5.95−13.45% 10.15−24% 11.10−36.80% 1.44−6.72% --

Abbreviations and Definitions: PIP=Potentially inappropriate opioid prescriptions; MME=Morphine milligram equivalents; Rx=Prescription; Q1-Q5=Quintile 1-Quintile 5 for PIP variables; MA=Massachusetts; US=United States; cut points for fatal opioid overdose are based on Massachusetts rates and US opioid overdose rates per 100,000.

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