nj.com: The N.J. counties that are most flooded with opioid prescriptions
7/10/2017
After years of increasing opioid use, the nation is experiencing a downturn in doctors handing out prescriptions for the class of drugs.
Prescriptions remained high in certain areas of New Jersey, however, according to a Centers for Disease Control report released this week.
On a national level, fewer patients received opioids in 2015 than in 2010, and the strength of the average opioid prescription also went down. However, doctors gave out longer prescriptions in 2015 compared to 2010, and the average strength of a prescription was still dangerously high, according to CDC Acting Director Dr. Anne Schuchat.
"The bottom line is, with opioid prescriptions, we are still seeing too many prescriptions given out for too long," she said.
Enough opioids were prescribed in 2015 to medicate every American around the clock for three weeks, she said.
New Jersey recently passed legislation mandating a five-day initial prescription limit on opioids in an attempt to combat abuse.
These are the counties with the highest amount of opioids prescribed, given in "morphine milligram equivalents," or MME, which measures the total dosage of opioids while correcting for differing strengths among different drugs.
Hudson had a rate of 370 MME per person in 2015, a 15 percent drop from 2010. This put it in the lowest quartile of counties in the United States.
Somerset had a rate of 400 MME per person in 2015, a 9 percent drop from 2010. This put it in the lowest quartile of counties in the United States.
Essex had a rate of 410 MME per person in 2015, a 16 percent drop from 2010. This put it in the lowest quartile of counties in the United States.
Union had a rate of 420 MME per person in 2015, a 14 percent drop from 2010. This put it in the lowest quartile of counties in the United States.
Hunterdon had a rate of 460 MME per person in 2015, which was unchanged from 2010. This put it in the second-lowest quartile of counties in the United States.
Morris had a rate of 470 MME per person in 2015, a 15 percent drop from 2010. This put it in the second-lowest quartile of counties in the United States.
Bergen had a rate of 470 MME per person in 2015, an 18 percent drop from 2010. This put it in the second-lowest quartile of counties in the United States.
Middlesex had a rate of 550 MME per person in 2015, a 31 percent drop from 2010. This put it in the second-lowest quartile of counties in the United States.
Passaic had a rate of 580 MME per person in 2015, which was unchanged from 2010. This put it in the second-lowest quartile of counties in the United States.
Mercer had a rate of 620 MME per person in 2015, a 2 percent increase from 2010. This put it in the second-lowest quartile of counties in the United States.
Monmouth had a rate of 700 MME per person in 2015, a 21 percent drop from 2010. This put it in the second-highest quartile of counties in the United States.
Sussex had a rate of 790 MME per person in 2015, a 17 percent increase from 2010. This put it in the second-highest quartile of counties in the United States.
Warren had a rate of 800 MME per person in 2015, a 6 percent increase from 2010. This put it in the second-highest quartile of counties in the United States.
Ocean had a rate of 900 MME per person in 2015, a 18 percent drop from 2010. This put it in the second-highest quartile of counties in the United States.
Salem had a rate of 950 MME per person in 2015, a 3 percent increase from 2010. This put it in the second-highest quartile of counties in the United States.
Atlantic had a rate of 970 MME per person in 2015, an 8 percent change from 2010. This put it in the highest quartile of counties in the United States.
Cumberland had a rate of 1070 MME per person in 2015, an 18 percent change from 2010. This put it in the highest quartile of counties in the United States.
Burlington had a rate of 1070 MME per person in 2015, a 6 percent increase from 2010. This put it in the highest quartile of counties in the United States.
Gloucester had a rate of 1200 MME per person in 2015, a 5 percent increase from 2010. This put it in the highest quartile of counties in the United States.
Cape May had a rate of 1220 MME per person in 2015, an 11 percent increase from 2010. This put it in the highest quartile of counties in the United States.
Camden had a rate of 1230 MME per person in 2015, a 9 percent drop from 2010. This put it in the highest quartile of counties in the United States.
