How opioid prescription policies affect doctors' prescribing habits

Changes to which Drugs and Drug Combinations are Prescribed in Response to Opioid Supply-side Policies

NIH-funded research Rand Corporation · NIH-10492001

This study looks at how new government rules about opioid prescriptions are changing what doctors give patients for pain relief, especially focusing on the rise of non-opioid options and combinations with other medications, to help understand how doctors can still meet their patients' pain needs while following these rules.

Quick facts

Grant typeR21 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionRand Corporation NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Santa Monica, United States)
Project IDNIH-10492001 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates how government policies aimed at reducing opioid prescriptions influence the medications that doctors prescribe for pain relief. It focuses on understanding the shift in prescribing patterns, particularly the increase in nonopioid alternatives and the combination of opioids with other medications like benzodiazepines. By analyzing these changes, the research aims to provide insights into how physicians adapt to policy restrictions while still addressing patient needs for pain management. The study will gather empirical evidence to link these prescribing trends to specific opioid supply-side policies.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are patients who are currently prescribed opioids or are seeking pain management solutions.

Not a fit: Patients who do not require pain management or are not affected by opioid prescriptions may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved prescribing practices that better balance pain management and the risks associated with opioid use.

How similar studies have performed: While there is preliminary evidence of changing prescribing patterns, this research is novel in its empirical approach to linking these trends to specific opioid supply-side policies.

Where this research is happening

Santa Monica, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)Centers for Disease ControlCenters for Disease Control and PreventionUnited States Centers for Disease ControlUnited States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.