Demographic characteristics, medical and psychiatric history of patients with prescription opioid use disorder

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. S300-S301
Author(s):  
S. Herrera ◽  
A. Riquelme ◽  
T. León ◽  
M. Babul

IntroductionOver the past two decades the prescription of opioid analgesics has increased with a subsequent escalating in prescription opioid misuse. It is estimated that 4.5 million (2.5%) of the United States of America population abuse of pain relievers; opioids are among the most commonly.In Chile there are few reports about the prevalence of opioid use disorder.ObjectivesThe aim of this study is to describe the demographic characteristics, medical and psychiatric comorbidity of patients that suffer from opioid addiction.Patients and methodsThis transversal study examined data of 7 patients with opioid use disorder (OUD; DSM-5) that consulted at the addiction unit of “Red de Salud, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile”, between November 2013 and October 2015. Data included: demographics, medical and psychiatric history, laboratory and imaging tests.ResultsOf all the patients, 57% were men, 25 to 67 years of age, 43% between 35-40 years; 57% were married; 57% had completed studies at university. 43% had also alcohol use disorder, 28% marijuana, 28% cocaine and 28% benzodiazepines than in most cases began before OUD. In addition; 57% had medical comorbidity among which stand out obesity (17%), osteoarthritis (17%) and chronic low back pain (17%). Eighty-three percent require hospitalization. Twenty-eight percent had abnormal liver tests and one patient had positive hepatitis B core antibody. Opioids used were: morphine(14%), codeine (43%), tramadol (42%).ConclusionThese results emphasize on the misuse of prescription opioids analgesics, the complexity of patients with OUD and the prevalence of other substance use disorder that precedes and accompany OUD.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

2021 ◽  
pp. E249-E256

BACKGROUND: Practice guidelines recommend urine drug monitoring (UDM) at least annually in the setting of chronic opioid therapy as an objective assessment of substance use. However, empirical evidence on who gets tested and how often testing occurs is lacking. OBJECTIVES: This study investigates 10-year UDM trends in the United States based on 2 factors: (1) the duration of prescription opioid treatment, and (2) having an opioid use disorder (OUD) diagnosis and medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) prescriptions. STUDY DESIGN: Observational cross-sectional study. SETTING: Research was conducted using administrative claims data from Optum’s deidentified Clinformatics Data Mart Database for the period 2007 to 2016. The dataset contained information on the plan enrollment and health care claims from 50 states and the District of Columbia. METHODS: To examine trends in UDM based on the duration of prescription opioid treatment, persons receiving prescription opioid analgesics were categorized into 4 groups based on the number of days covered: (a) less than 90 days, (b) 90 to 179 days, (c) 180 to 269 days, and (d) at least 270 days. To examine trends based on an OUD diagnosis and MOUD prescriptions, persons diagnosed with OUD were identified and categorized based on the presence of MOUD prescriptions as follows: (a) OUD with buprenorphine (BPN) and naltrexone (NTX) in the same year; (b) OUD with BPN only; (c) OUD with NTX only; (d) OUD with chronic prescription opioid analgesics (≥ 90 days); (e) OUD without prescription opioid analgesics, BPN, or NTX; and (f) chronic prescription opioid analgesics (≥ 90 days) without an OUD diagnosis. For analysis, the percent receiving UDM was estimated per group per year. Then the data were restricted to those receiving at least one UDM to estimate the average number of UDM per person. RESULTS: Data included an average of 364,485 persons per year receiving prescription opioid analgesics for chronic use, and 10,277 per year receiving an OUD diagnosis. Among those receiving prescription opioid analgesics, less than 50% received UDM. For those receiving at least one UDM, one additional UDM was performed per person as the duration of opioids increased by 90 days. Among persons with OUD, the percent receiving UDM was the highest for those receiving both BPN and NTX (87%), followed by those receiving BPN only (80%), chronic opioids (79%), NTX only (72%), and those not receiving any MOUD/opioids (54%). LIMITATIONS: Methadone dispensing for OUD treatments was not captured in administrative claims data. CONCLUSIONS: Although recommended for patients with chronic pain, UDM is provided less than half of the time for these patients. However, once patients received at least one UDM, they would continue to receive it on a fairly regular basis. Compared with those with chronic pain, persons diagnosed with OUD are more likely to receive UDM at a more frequent interval. KEY WORDS: Urine drug monitoring, urine drug testing, urine drug screening, chronic pain, opioid use disorder, prescription opioid analgesic, buprenorphine, naltrexone, medications for opioid use disorder


Author(s):  
M. Aryana Bryan ◽  
Valerie Hruschak ◽  
Cory Dennis ◽  
Daniel Rosen ◽  
Gerald Cochran

Opioid-related deaths by overdoses quadrupled in the United States from the years 1999 to 2015. This rise in mortality predominately occurred in the wake of historic changes in pain management practices and aggressive marketing of opioid medications such as oxycontin. Prescription opioid misuse and subsequent addiction spilled over to heroin and fentanyl for many. This drug epidemic differed from others in its impact among non-Hispanic whites, leading to drastic changes in how the United States views addiction and chooses to respond. This article offers an overview of opioid use disorder (OUD), its treatment and its relationship with pain. It also discusses special populations affected and provides insight into future directions for research and social work practice surrounding opioid management in the United States. Because of the profession’s emphasis on the person and social environment as well as its focus on vulnerable and oppressed populations, social work plays a critical role in addressing the crisis.


2018 ◽  
Vol 175 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Olfson ◽  
Melanie M. Wall ◽  
Shang-Min Liu ◽  
Carlos Blanco

Pain Medicine ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (7) ◽  
pp. 1338-1346 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven M Frenk ◽  
Susan L Lukacs ◽  
Qiuping Gu

Abstract Objective This study examined factors associated with prescription opioid analgesic use in the US population using data from a nationally representative sample. It focused on factors previously shown to be associated with opioid use disorder or overdose. Variations in the use of different strength opioid analgesics by demographic subgroup were also examined. Methods Data came from respondents aged 16 years and older who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2011–2014). Respondents were classified as opioid users if they reported using one or more prescription opioid analgesics in the past 30 days. Results Opioid users reported poorer self-perceived health than those not currently using opioids. Compared with those not using opioids, opioid users were more likely to rate their health as being “fair” or “poor” (40.4% [95% confidence interval {CI} = 34.9%–46.2%] compared with 15.6% [95% CI = 14.3%–17.1%]), experienced more days of pain during the past 30 days (mean = 14.3 [95% CI = 12.9–15.8] days compared with 2.3 [95% CI = 2.0–2.7] days), and had depression (22.5% [95% CI = 17.3%–28.7%] compared with 7.1% [95% CI = 6.2%–8.0%]). Among those who reported using opioids during the past 30 days, 18.8% (95% CI = 14.4%–24.1%) reported using benzodiazepine medication during the same period and 5.2% (95% CI = 3.5%–7.7%) reported using an illicit drug during the past six months. When opioid strength was examined, a smaller percentage of adults aged 60 years and older used stronger-than-morphine opioids compared with adults aged 20–39 and 40–59 years. Conclusions Higher percentages of current opioid users than nonusers reported having many of the factors associated with opioid use disorder and overdose.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Walter C. Prozialeck ◽  
Peter C. Lamar ◽  
Michael Krupp ◽  
Matthew Moon ◽  
Laura E. Phelps ◽  
...  

Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa, Korth.) is an evergreen tree that is indigenous to Southeast Asia. When ingested, kratom leaves or decoctions from the leaves have been reported to produce complex stimulant and opioid-like effects. For generations, native populations in Southeast Asia have used kratom products to stave off fatigue, improve mood, alleviate pain and manage symptoms of opioid withdrawal. Despite the long history of kratom use in Asia, it is only within the past 10–20 years that kratom has emerged as an important herbal agent in the United States, where it is being used for the self-treatment of pain, opioid withdrawal symptoms, and mood disorders. The increase in the use of kratom in the United States has coincided with the serious epidemic of opioid abuse and dependence. Since 2015, efforts to restrict access to prescription opioids have resulted in a marked increase in the use of “street” opioids such as heroin and illicit fentanyl. At the same time, many patients with chronic pain conditions or opioid use disorder have been denied access to appropriate medical help. The lack of access to care for patients with chronic pain and opioid use disorder has been magnified by the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this report, we highlight how these converging factors have led to a surge in interest in kratom as a potential harm reduction agent in the treatment of pain and opioid use disorder.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ebuwa T Ighodaro ◽  
Kenneth L McCall ◽  
Daniel Y Chung ◽  
Stephanie D Nichols ◽  
Brian J Piper

AbstractStudy ObjectiveThe US is experiencing an epidemic of opioid overdoses which may be at least partially due to an over-reliance on opioid analgesics in the treatment of chronic non-cancer pain and subsequent escalation to heroin or illicit fentanyl. As Texas was reported to be among the lowest in the US for opioid use and misuse, further examination of this state is warranted.Study DesignThis study was conducted to quantify prescription opioid use in Texas.Data SourceData was obtained from the publically available US Drug Enforcement Administration’s Automation of Reports and Consolidated Orders System (ARCOS) which monitors controlled substances transactions from manufacture to commercial distribution.Measurement and Main ResultsData for 2006-2017 from Texas for ten prescription opioids including eight primarily used to relieve pain (codeine, fentanyl, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, meperidine, morphine, oxycodone, oxymorphone) and two (buprenorphine and methadone) for the treatment of an Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) were examined. The change in Morphine Mg Equivalent (MME) of all opioids (+23.3%) was only slightly greater than the state’s population gains (21.1%). Opioids used to treat an OUD showed pronounced gains (+90.8%) which were four-fold faster than population growth. Analysis of individual agents revealed pronounced elevations in codeine (+387.5%), hydromorphone (+106.7%), and oxycodone (+43.6%) and a reduction in meperidine (−80.3%) in 2017 relative to 2006. Methadone in 2017 accounted for a greater portion (39.5%) of the total MME than hydrocodone, oxycodone, morphine, hydromorphone, oxymorphone, and meperidine, combined. There were differences between urban and rural areas in the changes in hydrocodone and buprenorphine.ConclusionsCollectively, these findings indicate that continued vigilance is needed in Texas to appropriately treat pain and an OUD while minimizing the potential for prescription opioid diversion and misuse. Texas may lead the US in a return to pre opioid crisis prescription levels.


2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 333-341
Author(s):  
Daniel K. Haddad, PharmD ◽  
Orrin H. Sherman, MD

Background: The use of opioid analgesics in the United States has increased nearly fourfold since 1999 resulting in a similar increase in opioid-related overdose deaths. Although the Centers for Disease Control published guidelines for prescribing chronic opioids, there is a lack of guidance for prescribing postoperative opioids. Objective: To offer an evidence-based approach to prescribing opioids for postoperative pain management in the orthopedic setting.Methods: A narrative review was performed of studies evaluating and quantifying opioid use in orthopedic patients in the postoperative setting, as well as studies analyzing patient satisfaction and perception with regards to opioid use.Results: Studies show that postoperative pain may not be the largest contributing factor to developing an opioid use disorder, but rather patient factors such as tobacco and substance use disorder, mental health disorders, anxiety, mood disorders, pre-existing chronic pain, and recent opioid use may play a role. The review also found that most patients do not utilize significant portions of prescribed opioids and most do not require a refill. This trend leaves patients with thousands of unused pills, which are either retained, shared, or diverted. Although there is no guideline for prescribing opioids postoperatively, data suggest that clinicians can prescribe smaller dosages and fewer quantities of opioids initially. There are also non-opioid strategies that can be employed to reduce opioid consumption.Conclusion: There is a need for more high quality research to be conducted to standardize postoperative opioid prescribing patterns and create best practice guidelines to guide clinicians. Orthopedic practices should consider creating institutional guidelines to reduce the amount of opioids prescribed.


Addiction ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 114 (12) ◽  
pp. 2150-2159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carrie M. Mintz ◽  
Sarah M. Hartz ◽  
Jacob T. Borodovsky ◽  
Laura J. Bierut ◽  
Richard A. Grucza

2017 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 196-201 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nitin Chopra ◽  
Lauren H Marasa

Opioid use disorder is a growing epidemic, with an alarming number of associated deaths. In 2014, in the United States, 18,893 lethal overdoses were related to prescription opioids and 10,574 due to heroin. Despite the growing number of treatment options for substance use disorders, which are chronic, relapsing-remitting conditions, relapse rates remain as high as 91%. In the United States, 7.5 million children reside with at least one patient who abuses drugs or alcohol. Mothers are twice as likely to lose custody of their children. They have higher rates of comorbid abuse and psychopathology and limited social supports. Child service agencies, commonly involved in these scenarios, are often pressured to find permanent placement for children, within an expedited timeframe, inconsistent with the need for sufficient time for recovery and goals of family inclusion and unity. We present the complicated case of a 25-year-old woman with a history of opioid use disorder and depression, who, after being in and out of treatment programs for years, had a lethal overdose. She had a significant family history of addiction and had lost custody of her children. This challenging, but common presentation draws attention to challenges in providing treatment during this opioid epidemic.


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