Opioid prescribing is still high and varies widely throughout the U.S. – infographic
Graphic shows a map of the US. Counties in the US vary regarding the amount of opioids prescribed per person.
The amount of opioids prescribed per person varied widely among counties in 2015.
MME per person
Insufficient data
0.1 – 453
454 – 676
677 – 958
959 – 5,543
Higher opioid prescribing puts patients at risk for addiction and overdose. The wide variation among counties suggests a lack of consistency among providers when prescribing opioids. The CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain offers recommendations that may help to improve prescribing practices and ensure all patients receive safer, more effective pain treatment.
CDC Vital Signs, July 2017.