Prince Edward IslandPrescription
Monitoring ReportNarcotics
(Opioids & Monitored Drugs)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGELetter
2018 Drug Narcotic Awareness110,142 prescriptions were filled for 35,919 individuals
2018 Drug Narcotic AwarenessA summary of 2018’s top 5 monitored drugs prescribed in the Opioid category
2018 Drug Narcotic AwarenessA summary of the top 5 monitored drugs prescribed in the Benzodiazepines category
2018 Prescriber Narcotic AwarenessThere were 581 practitioners who issued prescriptions for monitored drugs that were dispensed in 2018
Monitored Drugs - Overall Stats by Calendar Year
Monitored Drug Trends 2014-2018Drug Utilization Stats
Opioid Prescription Dispenses, morphine milligram equivalents (MME) per person, PEI, fiscal years 2010 to 2018
Summary of Top 5 Narcotics (Opioid) Category
Monitored Drug Trends 2014-2018Top 5 Opioid Category
Summary of Select Narcotics (Opioid) Category
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
2
Prince Edward Island Prescription Monitoring Report • Narcotics (Opioid & Monitored Drugs)
3
Prince Edward Island Prescription Monitoring Report • Narcotics (Opioid & Monitored Drugs)
As Minister of Health and Wellness, I would like to thank all those who worked on
the development of this important report.
The Prescription Monitoring Report for Narcotics builds on the existing efforts
that PEI has made in addressing opioid misuse and abuse over the last decade.
Establishing regular reporting for the province’s Prescription Monitoring Program
(PMP) for narcotics was a recommendation of the of the PEI Action Plan to
Prevent and Mitigate Opioid-related Overdoses and Deaths, and a positive step
forward in our ongoing commitment to address opioid abuse.
The importance of the PMP has increased in the last few years with the ongoing
challenges occurring across the country and the growing misuse of medications
for pain management. The PMP helps health care professionals support individuals
who may be at risk, and prevent and reduce associated harms.
We look forward to continuing our work with Health PEI and our community
partners in support of a healthier population. We are working to build a Prince
Edward Island where all residents can lead healthy and productive lives, where
wellness is valued and where families can thrive.
Honourable James Aylward
Minister of Health and Wellness
HealthPEI
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
35,000
40,000
45,000
50,000
55,000
0
60,000
65,000
70,000
Narcotics (opioids)
(# of Drugs - 44)
Targeted (benzodiazepines)
(# of Drugs - 18)
Controlled (stimulants)
(# of Drugs - 11)
Tramadol(# of Drugs - 2)
# o
f In
div
idu
als
/ # o
f P
resc
rip
tio
ns
18,356PHNs
63,341Scripts
11,731PHNs
3,758PHNs
29,865Scripts
13,636Scripts
3,300 Scripts2,074 PHNs
3.45Script/PHN
2.55Script/PHN
3.63Script/PHN
1.59Script/PHN
2018 Drug Narcotic Awareness110,142 prescriptions were filled for 35,919 individuals
DESCRIPTION: Number of prescriptions for monitored drugs and the number of people (PHNs) prescribed monitored drugs in 2018.
ANALYSIS: Narcotics (Opioids) were the most prescribed class of monitored drug in 2018.
NOTE: Monitored drugs are categorized according to federal classification codes.
4
Prince Edward Island Prescription Monitoring Report • Narcotics (Opioid & Monitored Drugs)
2018 Drug Narcotic AwarenessA summary of 2018’s top 5 monitored drugs prescribed in the Opioid category
# of Prescriptions # of Individuals
Acet W/Codeine (Tylenol 1,2,3,4) Methadone Morphine
Oxycodone (Percocet) Hydromorphone (Dilaudid)
13,208
11,9739,740
9,603
5,862
7,971
3,383
945
3,575
1,815
2018 Drug Narcotic AwarenessA summary of the top 5 monitored drugs prescribed in the Benzodiazepines category
# of Prescriptions # of Individuals
Lorazepam TemazepamAlprazolamClonazepam Diazepam
15,283
5,667
2,461
2,185
1,802
7,5822,065
911
861641
DESCRIPTION: Top 5 prescribed opioids in 2018 and the number of individuals prescribed for.
ANALYSIS: Acetaminophen with codeine was the most prescribed opioid in 2018. Acetaminophen with codeine is generally the medication of choice for mild to moderate pain.
NOTE: N/A
5
Prince Edward Island Prescription Monitoring Report • Narcotics (Opioid & Monitored Drugs)
2018 Drug Narcotic AwarenessA summary of 2018’s top 5 monitored drugs prescribed in the Opioid category
# of Prescriptions # of Individuals
Acet W/Codeine (Tylenol 1,2,3,4) Methadone Morphine
Oxycodone (Percocet) Hydromorphone (Dilaudid)
13,208
11,9739,740
9,603
5,862
7,971
3,383
945
3,575
1,815
2018 Drug Narcotic AwarenessA summary of the top 5 monitored drugs prescribed in the Benzodiazepines category
# of Prescriptions # of Individuals
Lorazepam TemazepamAlprazolamClonazepam Diazepam
15,283
5,667
2,461
2,185
1,802
7,5822,065
911
861641
DESCRIPTION: Top 5 prescribed benzodiazepines in 2018 and the number of individuals prescribed for.
ANALYSIS: Lorazepam was the most prescribed benzodiazepine. Lorazepam is mainly prescribed for mild anxiety.
NOTE: N/A
6
Prince Edward Island Prescription Monitoring Report • Narcotics (Opioid & Monitored Drugs)
2018 Prescriber Narcotic AwarenessThere were 581 practitioners who issued prescriptions for monitored drugs that were dispensed in 2018
276
65
342
32
2,822
361,594
67
101,805
381
Physicians# of Prescriptions # of Practitioners
Dentists# of Prescriptions # of Practitioners
Nurse Practitioners# of Prescriptions # of Practitioners
Medical Residents# of Prescriptions # of Practitioners
Pharmacists# of Prescriptions # of Practitioners
DESCRIPTION: Total number of practitioners by profession prescribing monitored drugs and the total number of prescriptions written.
ANALYSIS: Physicians, as the lead prescribing healthcare provider, prescribe the majority of monitored drugs.
NOTE: Pharmacists are allowed to prescribe and dispense Tylenol #1.
7
Prince Edward Island Prescription Monitoring Report • Narcotics (Opioid & Monitored Drugs)
10,000
20,000
30,000
40,000
50,000
60,000
70,000
80,000
90,000
100,000
110,000
0
Monitored Drugs - Overall Stats by Calendar Year
# of Prescriptions - Total - Monitored Drugs
110,142
102,298
104,683
98,752 99,000
103,676
107,743
111,071
35,91935,142 35,785 34,974 34,556 35,14835,956 36,239
# of Individuals - Total - Monitored Drugs
20182011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
# o
f In
div
idu
als
/ # o
f P
resc
rip
tio
ns
3.07Script/PHN
2.91Script/PHN
2.93Script/PHN
2.82Script/PHN
2.86Script/PHN
2.95Script/PHN
3.00Script/PHN
3.06Script/PHN
DESCRIPTION: Yearly comparison of the total number of prescriptions written for monitored drugs and the number of people prescribed monitored drugs.
ANALYSIS: After a decline in 2013, there has been a steady increase in the number of prescriptions written for monitored drugs while the number of patients being prescribed monitored drugs has remained relatively constant.
NOTE: The increase in prescriptions is directly related to the methadone program.
8
Prince Edward Island Prescription Monitoring Report • Narcotics (Opioid & Monitored Drugs)
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
35,000
40,000
45,000
50,000
55,000
0
60,000
65,000
70,000
2014
# o
f In
div
idu
als
/ # o
f P
resc
rip
tio
ns
2015 2016 2017
Narcotics Targeted Controlled Other
Monitored Drug Trends 2014-2018Drug Utilization Stats
63,3
41 S
crip
ts
58,4
61 S
crip
ts
62,1
63 S
crip
ts
64,1
71 S
crip
ts
29,8
65 S
crip
ts
29,3
51 S
crip
ts
28,7
96 S
crip
ts
29,1
68 S
crip
ts
3,75
8 P
HN
s •
13,6
36 S
crip
ts
2,07
4 P
HN
s •
3,30
0 S
crip
ts
11,7
31 P
HN
s
18,3
56 P
HN
s
2,64
2 P
HN
s •
8,59
8 S
crip
ts
1,47
3 P
HN
s •
2,59
0 S
crip
ts
2,93
7 P
HN
s •
10,0
74 S
crip
ts
1,48
8 P
HN
s •
2,64
3 S
crip
ts
3,16
5 P
HN
s •
11,0
06 S
crip
ts
1,89
4 P
HN
s •
3,39
8 S
crip
ts
11,4
70 P
HN
s
18,9
71 P
HN
s
11,4
74 P
HN
s
19,2
49 P
HN
s
11,6
54 P
HN
s
19,2
43 P
HN
s
2018
65,5
67 S
crip
ts
30,1
67 S
crip
ts
3,49
5 P
HN
s •
11,9
49 S
crip
ts
1,97
4 P
HN
s •
3,38
8 S
crip
ts
11,9
49 P
HN
s
18,8
21 P
HN
s3
.48
Scrip
t/PH
N
2.5
2 Sc
ript/
PHN
3.4
2 Sc
ript/
PHN
1.7
2 Sc
ript/
PHN
3.3
3 Sc
ript/
PHN
2.5
0 Sc
ript/
PHN
3.4
8 Sc
ript/
PHN
1.7
9 Sc
ript/
PHN
3.2
3 Sc
ript/
PHN
2.5
1 Sc
ript/
PHN
3.4
3 Sc
ript/
PHN
1.7
8 Sc
ript/
PHN
3.0
8 Sc
ript/
PHN
2.5
6 Sc
ript/
PHN
3.2
5 Sc
ript/
PHN
1.7
6 Sc
ript/
PHN
3.4
5 Sc
ript/
PHN
2.5
5 Sc
ript/
PHN
3.6
3 Sc
ript/
PHN
1.5
9 Sc
ript/
PHN
DESCRIPTION: Yearly comparison of total prescriptions written for monitored drugs and the number of people prescribed monitored drugs.
ANALYSIS: Number of prescriptions written for each category of monitored drug and the number of people prescribed monitored drugs has been steady since 2014.
NOTE: N/A
9
Prince Edward Island Prescription Monitoring Report • Narcotics (Opioid & Monitored Drugs)
200
400
600
800
1,000
1,200
1,400
1,600
02010 2011 2012 2013
MM
E p
er c
apit
a
MME (including methadone and Suboxone®)
MME (excluding methadone and Suboxone®)
Opioid Prescription Dispenses, morphine milligram equivalents (MME) per person,PEI, fiscal years 2010 to 2018
2014 2015 2016 2017
1,800
2018
DESCRIPTION: Opioid prescription dispenses expressed as morphine milligram equivalents per person for fiscal years 2010 to 2018.
ANALYSIS: When methadone and suboxone prescriptions are excluded, opioid prescribing based on morphine milligram equivalents has been steady since 2010.
NOTE: Morphine milligram equivalents is a value assigned to opioids to represent their relative potencies.
10
Prince Edward Island Prescription Monitoring Report • Narcotics (Opioid & Monitored Drugs)
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
30,000
35,000
40,000
45,000
50,000
55,000
0
Summary of Top 5 Narcotics (Opioid) Category
# of Prescriptions - Total - Summary of Select Narcotics
50,386
48,320
49,558
52,584
46,791
56,564
52,757
53,688
17,689
20,405 20,657
21,701
18,603
20,817
18,99318,355
# of Individuals - Total - Summary of Select Narcotics
2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018
# o
f In
div
idu
als
/ # o
f P
resc
rip
tio
ns
2.85Script/PHN2.37
Script/PHN
2.40Script/PHN
2.42Script/PHN
2.52Script/PHN
2.72Script/PHN
2.78Script/PHN
2.92Script/PHN
60,000
Note: Codeine (Tylenol 1,2,3,4), Oxycodone (Percocet), Methadone, Hydromorphone (Dilaudid), Morphine
DESCRIPTION: Yearly comparison of the top 5 most prescribed monitored drugs with the number of prescriptions and the number of individuals prescribed for.
ANALYSIS: There was a slight decrease in prescribing of the top 5 monitored drugs in 2014. The Province expanded coverage of methadone in 2013 which may have led to a decrease in prescriptions for monitored drugs. The rise in prescribing in 2015 is the result of more methadone prescriptions.
NOTE: Methadone maintenance treatment is the use of methadone, administered over a prolonged period of time, as treatment for someone who is addicted to opioids such as heroin, where detoxification has been unsuccessful and/or admittance to a substance abuse treatment facility requires complete abstinence.
11
Prince Edward Island Prescription Monitoring Report • Narcotics (Opioid & Monitored Drugs)
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000
12,000
14,000
16,000
18,000
20,000
02014 2015 2016 2017
# o
f P
resc
rip
tio
ns
Acetaminophen/Codeine/Caffeine
Methadone
Morphine
Oxycodone/Acetaminophen
Hydromorphone
Monitored Drug Trends 2014-2018Top 5 Opioid Category
11,973
5,862
9,603
9,740
13,208
6,626
4,802
8,437
11,641
15,285
11,174
5,302
8,251
14,494
17,343
12,456
5,699
9,246
11,192
14,164
2018
14,528
10,387
9,750
12,559
6,464
DESCRIPTION: Number of prescriptions written for the top 5 prescribed opioids from 2014 to 2018.
ANALYSIS: Methadone prescribing has increased since 2014 related to expanded access to the medication through Pharmacare drug programs.
NOTE: N/A
12
Prince Edward Island Prescription Monitoring Report • Narcotics (Opioid & Monitored Drugs)
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000
12,000
14,000
16,000
18,000
20,000
02014
# o
f In
div
idu
als
/ # o
f P
resc
rip
tio
ns
2015 2016 2017 2018
14,5
28
8,5
06
1.71
Scr
ipt/
PHN
10,3
87
3,7
26
2.7
9 Sc
ript/
PHN
9,7
50
3,2
25
3.0
2 Sc
ript/
PHN
6,4
64
1,9
56
3.3
0 Sc
ript/
PHN
12,5
59
94
213
.33
Scrip
t/PH
N
14,1
64
9,0
181.
57
Scrip
t/PH
N
11,1
92
4,1
95
2.6
7 Sc
ript/
PHN
9,2
46
3,0
193
.06
Scrip
t/PH
N
5,6
99
1,81
03
.15
Scrip
t/PH
N
12,4
56
951
13.1
0 Sc
ript/
PHN
17,3
43
10,5
94
1.6
4 Sc
ript/
PHN
14,4
94
5,0
82
2.8
5 Sc
ript/
PHN
8,2
512
,53
33
.26
Scrip
t/PH
N
5,3
02
1,7
02
3.1
2 Sc
ript/
PHN
11,1
749
06
12.3
3 Sc
ript/
PHN
15,2
85
9,5
161.
61 S
crip
t/PH
N
11,6
414
,613
2.5
2 Sc
ript/
PHN
63
7 /
6,6
26
10.4
0 Sc
ript/
PHN
8,4
37
2,3
79
3.5
5 Sc
ript/
PHN
4,8
02
1,4
58
3.2
9 Sc
ript/
PHN
13,2
08
7,9
711.
66
Scrip
t/PH
N
9,7
40
3,3
83
2.8
8 Sc
ript/
PHN
9,6
03
3,5
752
.69
Scrip
t/PH
N
5,8
62
1,81
53
.23
Scrip
t/PH
N
Codeine (Tylenol 1,2,3,4) Methadone Morphine
Oxycodone (Percocet) Hydromorphone (Dilaudid)
Summary of Select Narcotics (Opioid) Category
11,9
73
94
512
.67
Scrip
t/PH
N
13
Prince Edward Island Prescription Monitoring Report • Narcotics (Opioid & Monitored Drugs)
DESCRIPTION: Number of prescriptions written for the top 5 prescribed opioids from 2014 to 2018 with additional information.
ANALYSIS: Methadone prescribing has increased since 2014 related to expanded access to the medication through Pharmacare drug programs.
NOTE: This chart contains same data as previous chart with additional information added (# individuals and prescriptions per PHN).
Top Related