By Pat Anson, Editor

In the wake of growing criticism over its draft guidance for opioid prescribing, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released a new study it claims is proof of an “urgent need for improved prescribing practices.”

The agency released its first multi-state report from a federal surveillance system that analyzes data from eight states’ prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMP).

The report, published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) Surveillance Summary,  tracked prescribing patterns during 2013 in California, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Louisiana, Maine, Ohio and West Virginia -- about a quarter of the U.S. population.

The report found that prescribing patterns varied widely by state, not just for opioid pain medications, but for stimulants and benzodiazepines, a class of anti-anxiety drugs.

Louisiana ranked first in opioid prescribing, and Delaware and Maine had relatively high rates of prescribing extended-release (ER) opioids. Delaware and Maine also ranked highest in opioid dosage and in the percentage of opioid prescriptions written. California had the lowest prescribing rates for both opioids and benzodiazepines.

In most states, only a small minority of prescribers are responsible for most opioid prescriptions. The report also found that people who obtained opioid prescriptions often received benzodiazepine prescriptions as well, despite the risk for adverse drug interactions.

The wide variance between states was cited as a reason to bring more uniformity to prescribing practices.

“A more comprehensive approach is needed to address the prescription opioid overdose epidemic, including guidance to providers on the risks and benefits of these medications,” said Debra Houry, MD, director of CDC’s National Center for Injury Prevention and Control.

“Every day, 44 people die in American communities from an overdose of prescription opioids and many more become addicted,” said CDC director Tom Frieden, MD. "States are on the frontline of witnessing these overdose deaths.  This research can help inform their prescription overdose prevention efforts and save lives.”

Last month the CDC unveiled a dozen draft guidelines for primary care physicians who prescribe opioids. The guidelines recommend “non-pharmacological therapy” and non-opioid pain relievers as preferred treatments for chronic non-cancer pain. Smaller doses and quantities of opioids are recommended for acute or chronic pain.  A complete list of the guidelines can be found here.

Critics faulted the CDC for developing the guidelines in secret and with little input from patients or pain management experts.

Earlier this month, the California Medical Association sent a highly critical letter to Frieden and Houry saying it had “significant concern” about the secretive nature the agency used in developing the guidelines, which it said were “not appropriate nor transparent.”

“It is deeply concerning that the details behind the 12 recommendations are being made available to some unknown organizations and individuals for review and comment, but not to the general public. The information available to the public was so limited and the time to comment so brief, that it created the perception that the end result has already been determined,” wrote Luther Cobb, MD, President of the California Medical Association, which represents over 40,000 healthcare providers.

“The public must also be able to assess the potential biases and the opioid prescribing expertise for those involved in the creation of the guidelines. The public needs to know who was involved as well as their qualifications and conflicts.”

Cobb called on the CDC to publicly release all materials and recommendations used to develop the guidelines and to allow for a public comment period of 90 days.

The CDC accepted public comments for just 48 hours after releasing the guidelines during an online webinar last month.  As Pain News Network has reported, over 50 invitations to the webinar were sent to groups representing physicians, insurance companies, pharmacists, anti-addiction advocacy groups and other special interests. Only two patient advocacy groups – the American Cancer Society and the American Chronic Pain Association (ACPA) – were invited.