Abstract
Background: Annual stimulant prescribing rates have increased significantly in the last decade. Previous studies
indicate gender differences in medication utilization. , Recent studies suggest that the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic
has impacted access to and continuity of stimulant medications for some patients.
Objective(s): In light of the pandemic, we examined changes in stimulant prescribing by age and gender in
Massachusetts (MA) pre- and post-2020.
Methods: Analyses were conducted using de-identified MA Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) data (2011-
2021). Variables analyzed included gender, age groups, stimulant-naïve individuals, and days of overlapping
opioid, benzodiazepine, and/or other stimulant prescriptions.
Results: The stimulant prescribing rates increased from 218.7 in 2011 to 350.1 in 2021 per 1,000 residents. Age
and gender analyses reveal increased stimulant prescribing across all age groups. Over the past decade,
stimulant prescribing rates for females 25-44 years old were considerably higher than those of males in the same
age group. Between 2019 and 2021, there were more females under 25 who were stimulant naïve receiving
stimulants compared to males.
Conclusion: Findings indicate notable age and gender differences in stimulant medications utilization and overall
prescribing trends from pre- and post-2020, specifically for school-age youth and women of child rearing age.
Administrators and policy makers should employ the use of prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) data,
which collects all dispensed stimulant medications. Continuing to monitor prescribed stimulants and assess
overall trends helps improve equitable access to medications and quality of care while preventing drug misuse
and potential polydrug use.