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Prescription Opioids (prescription + opioid)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	100%

Selected Abstracts

Opioid Deaths in Rural Virginia: A Description of the High Prevalence of Accidental Fatalities Involving Prescribed Medications

THE AMERICAN JOURNAL ON ADDICTIONS, Issue 1 2009
Martha J. Wunsch MD
In rural Virginia, drug overdose deaths increased 300% from 1997 to 2003. Polydrug deaths predominate (57.9%) in this review of 893 medical examiner cases. Prescription opioids (74.0%), antidepressants (49.0%), and benzodiazepines (39.3%) were more prevalent than illicit drugs. Two-thirds of decedents were 35,54 years old; 37% were female. When compared to western Virginia metropolitan cases, polydrug abuse was more common, specific medication combinations were found, the death rate per population was higher, and fewer illicit drugs were detected. These rural prescription overdose deaths differ from urban illicit drug deaths, suggesting the need for different strategies in prevention, treatment, and intervention by clinicians and policymakers. [source]

Retention in methadone maintenance drug treatment for prescription-type opioid primary users compared to heroin users

ADDICTION, Issue 5 2009
Caleb J. Banta-Green
ABSTRACT Aims To assess retention in methadone maintenance treatment for prescription-type opioid primary (PTOP) users compared to heroin users. Design and participants A retrospective cohort study was carried out to examine the association between opiate types used on 12-month retention. The study population consisted of adults admitted to one of 11 not-for-profit methadone maintenance clinics in 2004 and 2005 throughout Washington State (n = 2308). Logistic regression analyses with fixed effects for treatment agencies were conducted. Measurements Opiate use type in past 30 days: any heroin use or primary prescription opioid without heroin use. Demographics, other drugs used, self-reported medical and psychiatric concerns, social, familial and legal issues, public assistance type and housing stability were documented at intake using a comprehensive biopsychosocial instrument, the Treatment and Assessment Reports Generation Tool. Findings The odds of being retained in treatment for PTOP compared to heroin users not adjusting for other factors was 1.33 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03, 1.71). In the final logistic regression model the odds of retention for PTOP compared to heroin users was 1.25 (95% CI, 0.93, 1.67), indicating that there was no statistically significant difference in treatment retention by opiate type after adjusting for demographics, treatment agencies, other drug use, public assistance type, medical, psychiatric, social, legal and familial factors. Conclusion The findings of this study suggest that PTOP can be treated at methadone maintenance treatment facilities at least as effectively as heroin users in terms of treatment retention. [source]

Characterizing the Emerging Population of Prescription Opioid Abusers

THE AMERICAN JOURNAL ON ADDICTIONS, Issue 3 2006
Stacey C. Sigmon PhD
Despite an alarming recent increase in prescription opioid abuse, the characteristics of prescription opioid abusers remain largely unknown. In this study, the demographic and drug use characteristics of 75 methadone patients (36 prescription opioid and 39 heroin users) were compared using a retrospective chart review. Prescription opioid abusers exhibited a profile of characteristics that may predict favorable treatment response, including less severe opioid use and IV drug use, and greater social stability compared to primary heroin abusers. Despite the limitations inherent in this retrospective chart review, this study provides initial evidence that prescription opioid abusers may have a number of characteristics that predict favorable treatment response. This new information may inform and assist current efforts to develop efficacious treatments for prescription opioid abuse. [source]

Unintentional drug overdose death trends in New Mexico, USA, 1990,2005: combinations of heroin, cocaine, prescription opioids and alcohol

ADDICTION, Issue 1 2008
Nina G. Shah
ABSTRACT Aims To determine the contribution of heroin, prescription opioids, cocaine and alcohol/drug combinations to the total overdose death rate and identify changes in drug overdose patterns among New Mexico subpopulations. Design We analyzed medical examiner data for all unintentional drug overdose deaths in New Mexico during 1990,2005. Age-adjusted drug overdose death rates were calculated by sex and race/ethnicity; we modeled overall drug overdose death adjusting for age and region. Findings The total unintentional drug overdose death rate in New Mexico increased from 5.6 per 100 000 in 1990 to 15.5 per 100 000 in 2005. Deaths caused by heroin, prescription opioids, cocaine and alcohol/drug combinations together ranged from 89% to 98% of the total. Heroin caused the most deaths during 1990,2005, with a notable rate increase in prescription opioid overdose death during 1998,2005 (58%). During 1990,2005, the 196% increase in single drug category overdose death was driven by prescription opioids alone and heroin alone; the 148% increase in multi-drug category overdose death was driven by heroin/alcohol and heroin/cocaine. Hispanic males had the highest overdose death rate, followed by white males, white females, Hispanic females and American Indians. The most common categories causing death were heroin alone and heroin/alcohol among Hispanic males, heroin/alcohol among American Indian males and prescription opioids alone among white males and all female subpopulations. Conclusions Interventions to prevent drug overdose death should be targeted according to use patterns among at-risk subpopulations. A comprehensive approach addressing both illicit and prescription drug users, and people who use these drugs concurrently, is needed to reduce overdose death. [source]

Usefulness of prescription monitoring programs for surveillance,analysis of Schedule II opioid prescription data in Massachusetts, 1996,2006,

PHARMACOEPIDEMIOLOGY AND DRUG SAFETY, Issue 2 2010
Nathaniel Katz
Abstract Purpose Electronic prescription monitoring programs (PMPs) have been developed in many states as a public health surveillance tool. We analyze herein 11 years of Massachusetts PMP data to evaluate trends in opioid prescribing, dispensing, and usage. Methods Prescription records from the Massachusetts PMP for Schedule II opioids from fiscal year 1996 to 2006 were analyzed. ,Questionable activity' (potential ,doctor shopping') estimates were based on individual use of multiple prescribers and pharmacies, and early refills. Results The number of prescriptions, doses prescribed, and individuals receiving Schedule II prescription opioids steadily increased from 1996 to 2006. Most individuals (87.5%) used 1,2 prescribers, 1,2 pharmacies, and had no early refills (2006). The greater the number of prescribers used, the greater the number of pharmacies used. When defined as the use of ,4 prescribers and ,4 pharmacies, questionable activity accounted for 2748 individuals, 47,953 prescriptions, and 2,966,056 doses (2006). The Schedule II opioid most highly associated with questionable activity was short-acting oxycodone. Conclusions PMPs can become a useful public health surveillance tool to monitor the medical and non-medical use of prescription opioids and to inform public health and safety policy. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]