Study to evaluate the impact of the ER/LA opioid REMS program on the incidence of Emergency Department visits and hospitalizations for overdose/poisoning and death among patients prescribed ER/LA opioid analgesics.

As part of the FDA-approved plan to evaluate the effects of the REMS program, the REMS Program Companies (RPC) are required to submit FDA assessment reports on a regular basis. The present study is one of several program evaluation components carried out in support Assessment 5: Surveillance monitoring for misuse, abuse, overdose, addiction, death and intervention taken. This study will evaluate the impact of the ER/LA opioid REMS program on the incidence of ED visits and hospitalizations for overdose/poisoning and death among patients prescribed ER/LA opioid analgesics.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. At least one dispensing of an ER/LA opioid after 01 July 2010
2. At least six months of continuous health plan eligibility prior to the first recorded dispensing of an opioid that occurs during an included REMS period

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Missing or implausible values for age
2. Missing or implausible values for gender

Patients that receive at least one dispensing of an ER/LA opioid during at least one study REMS period with at least six months of prior continuous health plan eligibility in the main analyses. Additional analyses will consider patients enrolled in the HIRD or a participating Medicaid plan regardless of ER/LA opioid exposure.