A morphine equivalent dose (MED) is the amount of opioid prescription drugs, converted to a common unit (milligrams of morphine), that a patient currently has access to based on the information reported by prescribers and pharmacies to OARRS. Morphine is widely regarded as the “standard” for the treatment of moderate to severe pain and is commonly used as the reference point. As MED increases, the likelihood of an adverse effect increases, therefore identifying at-risk patients is a crucial first step towards improving patient safety. OARRS utilizes conversion factors created by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.