That’s the discovering from a JAMA Community Open paper by Zhang et al. (2023). The authors use 2016-2022 knowledge from the IQVIA Longitudinal Prescription Database, which claims to seize 92% of retail pharmacy prescriptions.

First, fewer opioids prescriptions had been made (intensive margin):

Throughout January 2016 to December 2022, the month-to-month surgical opioid dishing out price decreased from 661.2 to 426.0 prescriptions per 100 000 folks (35.6%). This price decreased 0.89% (95% CI, −0.96% to −0.81%) monthly throughout January 2016 to January 2020, declined sharply and rebounded throughout February to July 2020, and declined 0.45% (95% CI, −0.61% to −0.29%) monthly from August 2020 onward

Moreover, when opioids had been prescribed, the quantity of opioids per prescription additionally declined (intensive margin):

Month-to-month imply complete MMEs [morphine milligram equivalents ] per prescription decreased from 414.0 to 222.0 prescriptions (roughly 44 drugs containing 5 mg hydrocodone) throughout January 2016 to December 2022 (46.4%). This amount decreased 0.47% (95% CI, −0.60% to −0.35%) monthly throughout January 2016 to Could 2017 and 1.34% (95% CI, −1.38% to −1.29%) throughout Could 2017 to January 2020. After a rise and reduce throughout February to July 2020, this amount declined 0.39% (95% CI, −0.44% to −0.34%) monthly from August 2020 onward .

You may learn the total paper right here.