The Impact of Hydrocodone Rescheduling on Utilization, Abuse, Misuse, and Overdose Deaths.

HCP rescheduling was associated with accelerated declines in hydrocodone dispensing, only partially offset by smaller increases in codeine, oxycodone, and morphine dispensing. The net impact on hydrocodone and other opioid analgesic-involved misuse/abuse and fatal overdose was unclear. We did not detect an immediate impact on heroin abuse or overdose death rates; however, the dynamic nature of the crisis and data limitations present challenges to causal inference. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.