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PARKERSBURG -- A three-prong approach to reducing opioid dependence is showing results in West Virginia, according to a Highmark Health official.
The number of prescriptions per 1,000 people has dropped 16 percent from 2016 to 2017 in West Virginia, Dr. Charles DeShazer, a senior vice president and chief medical officer for Highmark Health, said. Similar reductions have occurred in Pennsylvania and Delaware in the Highmark service area, he said.
"We are working hard to address this issue," DeShazer said.
Highmark Health held a telephone press conference on Thursday morning announcing the latest Health of America Report, "The Opioid Epidemic in America: An Update."
The three-prong strategy includes alternative treatments for pain without opioids, such as physical and behavioral therapies, acupuncture and fitness programs, prescribing smaller dosages for shorter durations, including prescribing the pain medication when necessary, and identifying addictive behavior and providing treatment for those with addiction.
"We know there is no silver bullet," DeShazer said.
The report said the number of opioid medications that were filled dropped 29 percent from 2013 to 2017. Thirty-four states, including West Virginia, posted reductions from 35 percent to 40 percent, the report said.
From 2016 to 2017, the drop in West Virginia was 721 prescriptions filled per 1,000 members in 2016 to 607 per 1,000 in 2017, a decrease of 16 percent, DeShazer said. A 16 percent decrease was also measured in Pennsylvania while there was a 10 percent decrease in Delaware from 2016 to 2017.
Last year, 67 percent of Blue Cross Blue Shield members filled their first opioid prescription following the Centers for Disease Control guidelines, the report said.
"While this report demonstrates a reduction in the number of filled opioid prescriptions, it also underscores the substantial number of Americans diagnosed with opioid use disorder, including 241,900 BCBS members," the report said. "To diminish inappropriate prescription opioid use across the U.S., continued focus remains on curbing inappropriate opioid prescriptions, as well as providing access to effective treatment for all Americans suffering from opioid use disorder."