City reports trend-busting drop in oxycodone prescriptions

Dan Goldberg

New York City is reporting a decrease in the number of oxycodone prescriptions, a reversal of a decade-long trend which has been blamed, in part, for a rash of overdose deaths.

The decrease in use of the popular opioid comes in the wake of concerted efforts at the state level by the attorney general's office and at the city level starting with the Bloomberg administration to discourage doctors from over-prescribing the drug.

In 2013, New York City residents filled 1.27 million prescriptions for oxycodone, a Schedule II narcotic pain reliever, according to data from the state health department’s Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement.

http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/city-hall/2014/09/8551843/city-reports-trend-busting-drop-oxycodone-prescriptions