Association of opioid prescribing practices with chronic pain and benzodiazepine co-prescription: a primary care data linkage study

BackgroundOpioid prescribing is increasing worldwide with associated increases in misuse and other harms. We studied variations in national opioid prescription rates, indicators of prescribing quality, co-prescribing of benzodiazepines and relationship with pain severity in Scotland.MethodsElectronic linkages of opioid prescribing in Scotland were determined from: (i) national data from Information Services Division, NHS Scotland (2003–2012);...