scholarly journals Prescription Opioid Distribution After the Legalization of Recreational Marijuana in Colorado, 2007-2017

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amalie K. Kropp ◽  
Stephanie D. Nichols ◽  
Daniel Y. Chung ◽  
Kenneth L. McCall ◽  
Brian J. Piper
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Oral Morphine ◽  
The United States ◽  
Prescription Opioid ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Chronic Noncancer Pain ◽  
Overdose Death ◽  
Pain Medications ◽  
Recreational Marijuana ◽  
Noncancer Pain

AbstractImportanceOpioid related overdoses and overprescribing continue to be an ongoing issue within the United States. Further consideration of nonopioid alternatives as a substitute to treat chronic noncancer pain and in the treatment of opioid use disorders (OUD) is warranted.ObjectiveTo examine the association between the legalization of Colorado’s recreational marijuana and prescription opioid distribution trends. Two states that have not legalized recreational marijuana were selected for comparison.MethodsThe United States Drug Enforcement Administration’s Automation of Report and Consolidated Orders System (ARCOS) was used to examine nine pain medications: oxycodone, fentanyl, morphine, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, oxymorphone, tapentadol, codeine, meperidine and two OUD medications: methadone and buprenorphine from 2007-2017 in Colorado, Utah, and Maryland. The drug weights were extracted, examined, and graphed. Medications were converted to their oral morphine milligram equivalents (MME) using standard conversion factors.ResultsColorado reached a peak of pain MME weight in 2012 and had an −11.66% reduction from 2007 to 2017. During the same interval, Utah had a +9.64% increase in pain medication distribution and Maryland, a −6.02% reduction. As for medications used for OUD, Colorado, Utah, and Maryland had +19.42% increase, −31.45% reduction, and +66.56% increase, respectively. Analysis of the interval pre (2007-2009) versus post (2013-2017) marijuana legalization was completed. Statistically significant changes were observed for Colorado (P=0.033) and Maryland (P=0.007), but not Utah (P=0.659) for pain medications. Analysis of the OUD medications identified significant changes for Colorado (P=0.0003) and Maryland (P=0.0001), but not Utah (P=0.0935). Over the decade, Colorado’s opioid distribution was predominantly (72.49%) for pain with one-quarter (27.51%) for an OUD. Utah distributed 61.00% for pain and 39.00% for OUD. However, Maryland was one-third (37.89%) for pain but over-three-fifths (62.11%) for an OUD.ConclusionThere has been a significant decrease in the prescription opioid distribution after the legalization of marijuana in Colorado. This finding was particularly notable for opioids indicated predominantly for analgesia such as hydrocodone, morphine and fentanyl. Colorado had a larger decrease in opioid distribution after 2012 than Utah or Maryland. Therefore, marijuana could be considered as an alternative treatment for chronic pain and reducing use of opioids. Also, when combined with other novel research, it may also reduce the overdose death rate. Additional research with more comparison states is ongoing.

Chronic prescription opioid use in pregnancy in the United States

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Loreen Straub ◽  
Krista F. Huybrechts ◽  
Sonia Hernandez‐Diaz ◽  
Yanmin Zhu ◽  
Seanna Vine ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
The United States ◽  
Prescription Opioid ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Prescription Opioid Use ◽  
In Pregnancy

The Opioid Crisis

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Aryana Bryan ◽  
Valerie Hruschak ◽  
Cory Dennis ◽  
Daniel Rosen ◽  
Gerald Cochran
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Social Work ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Work Practice ◽  
The United States ◽  
Social Work Practice ◽  
Opioid Use Disorder ◽  
Prescription Opioid ◽  
Opioid Use

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.

scholarly journals Cannabis Use and Risk of Prescription Opioid Use Disorder in the United States

2018 ◽  
Vol 175 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Olfson ◽  
Melanie M. Wall ◽  
Shang-Min Liu ◽  
Carlos Blanco
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
The United States ◽  
Opioid Use Disorder ◽  
Cannabis Use ◽  
Prescription Opioid ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Prescription Opioid Use

Internet-based Survey of Nonmedical Prescription Opioid Use in the United States

2008 ◽  
Vol 24 (6) ◽  
pp. 528-535 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathaniel Katz ◽  
Kathrine Fernandez ◽  
Alan Chang ◽  
Christine Benoit ◽  
Stephen F. Butler
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
The United States ◽  
Prescription Opioid ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Prescription Opioid Use

scholarly journals Exploring the Lived Experience of Adults using Prescription Opioids to Manage Chronic Noncancer Pain

2015 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erica A Brooks ◽  
Anita Unruh ◽  
Mary E Lynch
Keyword(s):  
Lived Experience ◽  
Quantitative Research ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Prescription Opioid ◽  
Prescription Opioids ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Chronic Noncancer Pain ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Noncancer Pain ◽  
Dimensions Of Pain

BACKGROUND: Chronic noncancer pain (CNCP) and prescription opioid use is a highly complex and growing health care issue in Canada. Many quantitative research studies have investigated the effectiveness of opioids for chronic pain; however, gaps remain in the literature regarding the personal experience of using opioids and their impact on those experiencing CNCP.OBJECTIVE: To explore the lived experience of adults using prescription opioids to manage CNCP, focusing on how opioid medication affected their daily lives.METHODS: In-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with nine adults between 40 and 68 years of age who were using prescription opioids daily for CNCP. Interviews were audiorecorded and transcribed, and subsequently analyzed using interpretive phenomenological analysis.RESULTS: Six major themes identified positive and negative aspects of opioid use associated with social, physical, emotional and psychological dimensions of pain management. These themes included the process of decision making, and physical and psychosocial consequences of using opioids including pharmacological side effects, feeling stigmatized, guilt, fears, ambivalence, self-protection and acceptance.CONCLUSION: Although there were many negative aspects to using opioids daily, the positive effects outweighed the negative for most participants and most of the negative aspects were socioculturally induced rather than caused by the drug itself. The present study highlighted the complexities involved in using prescription opioids daily for management of CNCP for individuals living with pain.

scholarly journals Canadian Guidelines on Opioid Use Disorder Among Older Adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 123-134
Author(s):  
Launette M. Rieb ◽  
Zainab Samaan ◽  
Andrea D. Furlan ◽  
Kiran Rabheru ◽  
Sid Feldman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
English Language ◽  
Oral Morphine ◽  
Opioid Use Disorder ◽  
Opioid Overdose ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Chronic Noncancer Pain ◽  
Assessment And Treatment ◽  
Noncancer Pain ◽  
Health Canada

BackgroundIn Canada, rates of hospital admission from opioid overdose are higher for older adults (≥ 65) than younger adults, and opioid use disorder (OUD) is a growing concern. In response, Health Canada commissioned the Canadian Coalition of Seniors’ Mental Health to create guidelines for the prevention, screening, assessment, and treatment of OUD in older adults.MethodsA systematic review of English language literature from 2008–2018 regarding OUD in adults was conducted. Previously published guidelines were evaluated using AGREE II, and key guidelines updated using ADAPTE method, by drawing on current literature. Recommendations were created and assessed using the GRADE method.ResultsThirty-two recommendations were created. Prevention recommendations: it is key to prioritize non-pharmacological and non-opioid strategies to treat acute and chronic noncancer pain. Assessment recommendations: a comprehensive assessment is important to help discern contributions of other medical conditions. Treatment recommendations: buprenorphine is first line for both withdrawal management and maintenance therapy, while methadone, slow-release oral morphine, or naltrexone can be used as alternatives under certain circumstances; non-pharmacological treatments should be offered as an integrated part of care.ConclusionThese guidelines provide practical and timely clinical recommendations on the prevention, assessment, and treatment of OUD in older adults within the Canadian context.

scholarly journals 1045Patterns, predictors and outcomes of opioid use in Australia: evidence for an epidemic?

2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenni Ilomaki ◽  
Samanta Lalic ◽  
Natasa Gisev ◽  
Suzanne Nielsen
Keyword(s):  
Data Analysis ◽  
Motor Vehicle ◽  
The United States ◽  
Prescription Opioid ◽  
High Dose ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
Head Of School ◽  
Pain Medications ◽  
Strong Opioids

Abstract Focus and outcomes for participants This symposium will focus on evidence from pharmacoepidemiological research on prevalence and incidence of prescription opioid prevalence, opioid utilisation patterns and related harms in Australia. The symposium will also discuss interventions to reduce opioid-related harm. The speakers will discuss how opioid use and prescribing culture has evolved over the last two decades and provide insight from recent research using big data analysis on prescription opioid use and related outcomes. Rationale for the symposium, including for its inclusion in the Congress In 2016, there were 679 overdose deaths involving opioid pain medications in Australia, with the majority of these deaths unintentional. There is growing concern that harm from opioid pain medications in Australia may mimic the situation in the United States and Canada, where the problem has been labelled an epidemic. Recent Monash led research using Australia’s Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme data for 2013 to 2018 found that approximately 3 million Australians adults use opioids each year and approximately 1.9 million adults start taking opioids. Of this population of adults that start using opioids, 2.6% become long-term users for over a year. Long-term use and the use of strong opioids are associated with a range of adverse health outcomes. High-dose opioid use has also been associated with falls, fractures, hospitalisations and motor vehicle injuries. The rationale of this symposium is to draw on the expertise of the presenters and share innovative epidemiological and data analysis methods to understand opioid use in the Australian context. The creation of such a forum at the World Congress will allow for enhanced knowledge sharing on both a national and international platform and assist in planning strategies to better anticipate and manage potential harms when opioid pain medications are initiated. Presentation program The Symposium consists of four presentations: Names of presenters Names of facilitator or chair Professor Danny Liew, Deputy Head of School, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia Ms. Michelle Steeper, Research Officer, Centre for Medicine Use and Safety, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia

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