Guy GP, et al. - Utilizing the 2015 Prescription Behavior Surveillance System, researchers analyzed concurrent opioid and benzodiazepine prescribing in 9 states. An opioid was prescribed in 19,977,642 cases, of these, 21.6% (4,324,092) were also prescribed a benzodiazepine, of which 54.9% (2,375,219) had concurrent prescriptions. They found higher mean total opioid days, daily opioid dosage, and days of concurrent prescribing among patients in relation to the involvement of multiple prescribers vs concurrent prescriptions from the same prescriber. More commonly, adults aged ≥ 50 years and female patients received concurrent prescribing. These findings call for public health interventions aimed at attenuating concurrent prescribing of opioids and benzodiazepines. When one prescriber is involved, concurrent prescribing can be attenuated with the help from evidence-based guidelines. When multiple prescribers are involved, concurrent prescribing could be addressed via use of prescription drug monitoring programs and enhanced care coordination.