Rates of Physician Coprescribing of Opioids and Benzodiazepines After the Release of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Guidelines in 2016

Key Points Question Was the release of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s 2016 opioid prescribing guidelines associated with changes in the rate of coprescription of opioids and benzodiazepines? Findings This cohort study of administrative data for 4 897 464 patients found small, statistically significant decreases in the rate of coprescription in the 2 years after the guideline release. These decreases were seen only in the targeted guideline population—people using opioids long term—not in those receiving short courses of opioids. Meaning Coprescribing rates of opioids and benzodiazepines may have decreased after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guideline release, but associations with patient outcomes are not yet known.