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Review
. 2020 Sep 1:214:108137.
doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2020.108137. Epub 2020 Jun 27.

The state of the science in opioid policy research

Megan S Schuler  1 , Sara E Heins  2 , Rosanna Smart  3 , Beth Ann Griffin  4 , David Powell  2 , Elizabeth A Stuart  5 , Bryce Pardo  4 , Sierra Smucker  3 , Stephen W Patrick  6 , Rosalie Liccardo Pacula  7 , Bradley D Stein  8
Affiliations
Review

The state of the science in opioid policy research

Megan S Schuler et al. Drug Alcohol Depend. .

Abstract

Objective: Characterize the state of the science in opioid policy research based on a literature review of opioid policy studies.

Methods: We conducted a scoping review of studies evaluating the impact of U.S. state-level and federal-level policies on opioid-related outcomes published in 2005-2018. We characterized: 1) state and federal policies evaluated, 2) opioid-related outcomes examined, and 3) study design and analytic methods (summarized overall and by policy category).

Results: In total, 145 studies were reviewed (79 % state-level policies, 21 % federal-level policies) and classified with respect to 8 distinct policy categories and 7 outcome categories. The majority of studies evaluated policies related to prescription opioids (prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs), opioid prescribing policies, federal regulation of prescription opioids, pain clinic laws) and considered policy impacts with respect to proximal outcomes (e.g., opioid prescribing behaviors). In total, only 29 (20 % of studies) met each of three key criteria for rigorous design: analysis of longitudinal data with a comparison group design, adjustment for difference between policy-enacting and comparison states, and adjustment for potentially confounding co-occurring policies. These more rigorous studies were predominately published in 2017-2018 and primarily evaluated PDMPs, marijuana laws, treatment-related policies, and overdose prevention policies.

Conclusions: Our results indicated that study design rigor varied notably across policy categories, highlighting the need for broader adoption of rigorous methods in the opioid policy field. More evaluation studies are needed regarding overdose prevention policies and policies related to treatment access. Greater examination of distal outcomes and potential unintended consequences are also warranted.

Keywords: Federal policy; Opioid policy; Review; State policy; Statistical methodology.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Competing Interest No conflict declared.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Flow chart of literature search and study sample selection
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Publication dates of opioid policy evaluation studies reviewed (n=145)
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Categories of opioid-related policies evaluated across the 145 studies reviewed Note: The sum across categories exceeds 145, as some studies examined multiple policies.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Categorization of studies by both policies evaluated and outcomes examined.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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