scholarly journals Prevention of Pediatric Pharmaceutical Poisonings

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 117-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole D. White ◽  
William Kibalama
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Prescription Drug ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Childhood Injury ◽  
Prescription Drug Use ◽  
Take Back ◽  
Unused Medications

Pediatric poisoning remains a common, preventable childhood injury and incidence is on the rise. Child-resistant packaging has been shown to prevent pharmaceutical poisoning, but must be applied and used appropriately to be effective. Prescription drug use among adults is also increasing and may be contributing to the problem through a greater number of medications in the child’s environment. Drug take back programs are designed to reduce the number of unused medications in the home. These programs are expanding and health care providers should be aware of and encourage safe drug disposal practices.

What Does the Community Say: Key Informant Perceptions of Rural Prescription Drug Use

2007 ◽  
Vol 37 (3) ◽  
pp. 503-524 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carl Leukefeld ◽  
Robert Walker ◽  
Jennifer Havens ◽  
Cynthia A. Leedham ◽  
Valarie Tolbert
Keyword(s):  
Drug Use ◽  
Prescription Drug ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Prescription Drugs ◽  
Drug Misuse ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Key Informants ◽  
Prescription Drug Use ◽  
Entry Points ◽  
Nonmedical Use

This article presents data from four groups of rural Key Informants—Community leaders, educators, health care providers and justice/law enforcement officials—to understand the nonmedical use and misuse of prescription drugs. Seventy key informants were purposively selected from two counties in Appalachian Kentucky. Key informants indicated that the nonmedical use of prescription drugs is complex and has historical roots. Two pathways, or entry points, into the nonmedical use and misuse of prescription drugs were identified: physical pain and recreational use. Data show trends with regard to drug use patterns, drug use education, involvement with the criminal justice system and the role of economics in the prescription drug use problem. Key Informants underscored a common theme that the rural prescription drug problem was fueled by a cultural acceptance of drug misuse. Recommendations are presented for services and research.

scholarly journals Communication of Recommendations for the Disposal of Unused Prescription Opioid Medications by Stakeholders in the News Media

Pain Medicine ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (9) ◽  
pp. 1711-1716 ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan L Petrik ◽  
Patrick J McNamara ◽  
Susan M Moeschler ◽  
Benjamin D Blair
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Law Enforcement ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
News Media ◽  
Prescription Opioid ◽  
Environmental Harm ◽  
Prescription Opioids ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Take Back ◽  
Opioid Medications

Abstract Objective The opioid epidemic is a national public health emergency that requires a comprehensive approach to reduce opioid-related deaths. Proper and timely disposal of unused prescription opioids is one method to deter improper use of these medications and prevent overdose. The objective of this study was to understand how recommendations for disposing of unused prescription opioids, including both take-back programs and toilet disposal, are communicated to the public. Methods Two hundred sixty-three US newspaper articles published between January 1, 2014, and June 30, 2017, containing information on opioids and take-back programs were found using LexisNexis. Using content analysis, articles were coded for the presentation of and recommendation for opioid disposal practices, beliefs about environmental harm from toilet disposal, and additional strategies to reduce opioid supply. The entity responsible for the statement was also captured. Results Take-back programs were presented as a recommended disposal strategy for unused prescription opioids in 88.6% of coded articles. Toilet disposal was presented as a recommended disposal strategy for unused prescription opioids in 3.4% of articles and as harmful to the environment in 16.0% of articles. Individuals from health care, government, and law enforcement were primarily involved in discussing opioid disposal practices. Conclusions Although toilet disposal is recommended by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for disposal of unused prescription opioids when a take-back program is not readily available, it was infrequently presented or recommended in news media articles. These results highlight the importance of improving communication of FDA guidelines for opioid disposal in the media, particularly by health care providers, government employees, and law enforcement officials.

scholarly journals Computerised data bases on prescription drug use and health care in the community of Tierp, Sweden: Experiences and challenges from a study of antidepressant-treated patients

2009 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kerstin Bingefors
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Prescription Drug ◽  
Data Base ◽  
Prescription Drugs ◽  
Data Availability ◽  
Font Size ◽  
Data Bases ◽  
Prescription Drug Use

<strong><span style="font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-BoldMT;"><font face="TimesNewRomanPS-BoldMT"><p align="left"> </p></font></span><p align="left"><span style="font-size: x-small; font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-BoldMT;"><span style="font-size: x-small; font-family: TimesNewRomanPS-BoldMT;">ABSTRACT</span></span></p></strong><span style="font-size: x-small; font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><span style="font-size: x-small; font-family: TimesNewRomanPSMT;"><p align="left">Much of our knowledge of drugs originates from clinical trials of drug efficacy performed on stringently</p><p align="left">selected patient groups, often without multiple concurrent diseases. However, the effectiveness of treatment</p><p align="left">under conditions of use in ordinary clinical practice may be very different to conditions in the</p><p align="left">randomised clinical trial. Use of large computerised data bases and record linkage has thus become</p><p align="left">increasingly common in pharmacoepidemiologic research. The greatest advantages of using routinely</p><p align="left">collected data are the minimisation of study costs and time required to complete a study, considerations</p><p align="left">that are particularly relevant for longitudinal studies. The advantages of using data bases also include the</p><p align="left">possibility of obtaining large sample sizes and to retrospectively study long-term outcomes. The risk for</p><p align="left">recall bias, a significant problem in interviews and questionnaires, is also reduced. However, computerised</p><p align="left">data bases also have some potentially serious disadvantages, primarily in the areas of data validity</p><p align="left">and data availability. The Tierp study, including individually based data bases of prescription drug use,</p><p align="left">will be used here as an example of research. In this paper an example of a comprehensive data base study</p><p align="left">concerning health care and drug utilisation in depressed patients is presented. Methodological considerations</p><p align="left">in data base research are discussed in relation to experiences from the antidepressant study. A well</p><p align="left">planned and research oriented computerised data base on prescription drugs represents an important tool</p><p>in the study of the outcome of drug treatment in real world clinical practice.</p></span></span>

scholarly journals Concern about the Expanding Prescription Drug Epidemic: A Survey of Licensed Prescribers and Dispensers

2016 ◽  
Vol 1;19 (1;1) ◽  
pp. E197-E208
Author(s):  
Eric R. Wright
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Drug Abuse ◽  
Prescription Drug ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Nurse Practitioners ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Drug Misuse ◽  
Prescription Drug Abuse ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Level Of Concern

Background: Prescription drug misuse and abuse has reached epidemic levels in the U.S., and stands as a leading cause of death. As the primary gatekeepers to the medications contributing to this epidemic, it is critical to understand the views of licensed health care professionals. Objective: In this study, we examine health care professionals’ concern regarding prescription drug abuse in their communities and the impact their concern has had on their prescribing and dispensing practices. Study Design: An online survey of licensed health care providers. Setting: Conducted in Indiana. Methods: This study was a state-wide evaluation of Indiana’s prescription drug monitoring program. The questionnaire asked respondents how concerned they were about prescription drug abuse in their community. Variation in the level of concern was examined using ordinary least squares regression and information about the respondents’ demographic background and clinical experience. In addition, we used logistic regression to examine whether concern was associated with changing prescribing and/or dispensing behavior. Results: The majority of providers indicated they were “moderately” or “extremely concerned” about prescription drug abuse in their communities. The level of concern, however, varied significantly by profession, with pharmacists, physicians, nurse practitioners/physician assistants being more concerned than dentists. Additional analyses indicate that providers with higher levels of concern were those who also reported recently changing their prescribing and/ or dispensing behavior. Limitations: The voluntary nature and geographical focus of the study limits the generalizability of the findings. Conclusion: Concern about prescription drug abuse is generally high across the major health care professions; however, a significant minority of providers, particularly among dentists, expressed little or no concern about the epidemic. Increasing health care providers’ general level of concern about prescription drug abuse may be an effective public health tool for encouraging voluntary reductions in prescribing and/or dispensing controlled substances. Key words: Attitudes of physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and dentists; prescription drug misuse and abuse; prescribing practices; dispensing practices

Revisiting the Fetal Assault Law in Tennessee: Implications and the Way Forward

2021 ◽  
pp. 152715442198999
Author(s):  
Caroline K. Darlington ◽  
Peggy A. Compton ◽  
Sadie P. Hutson
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Well Being ◽  
The United States ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Opioid Use ◽  
The Impact ◽  
In Pregnancy

The rising prevalence of opioid use disorder (OUD) among those living in the United States has demanded a collaborative response from health care and policy spheres. Addressing OUD among pregnant women is especially difficult, given the controversies surrounding the medical and ethical balance between meeting maternal versus fetal/newborn needs. Most medical organizations discourage the criminalization of drug use in pregnancy due to the adverse public health outcomes of such an approach. Despite this recommendation, many states continue to use punitive law to address drug use in pregnancy. In 2014, the Fetal Assault Law in Tennessee (TN) became the first law in the United States to directly allow women to be prosecuted for drug use in pregnancy. Since its expiration in 2016, this law has been re-introduced several times to the TN legislature in support of permanent implementation. This article outlines the impact of the initial Fetal Assault Law on maternal/newborn health in TN and provides alternative immediate, short-term, and long-term health policy strategies through which health care providers and legislators can better advocate for the well-being of both mothers with OUD and their infants.

scholarly journals Optimizing Opioid Abuse Prevention Strategies: Role of Pharmacist in Safe Dispensing

2021 ◽  
pp. 259-267
Author(s):  
M. Anusree ◽  
Pravina Mohan ◽  
P. Reshma ◽  
Zuhara Mariyam
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Opioid Abuse ◽  
Drug Misuse ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Substance Addiction ◽  
Medical Practitioners ◽  
Take Back ◽  
Red Flag

Misuse, violence, and distribution of opioids are also a public health concern. Pharmacists are at the forefront of the health-care response to the opioid epidemic because they have more opportunities to engage with patients than primary care or specialist medical practitioners. Because of these situations, pharmacists have more chances to provide proper prevention advice and reinforce proper opioid drug usage. Understanding dosage restrictions, learning how to use prescription drug monitoring programmes, knowing when drug take-back programmes are taking place, and advising consumers about the dangers of substance addiction are both techniques that pharmacists should be informed about. Recognising "red flag" actions that may suggest opioid abuse; using tests to determine a patient's risk of opioid abuse; collaborating with other health-care providers to plan a patient's treatment; knowing how abuse-deterrent antidepressants function and what they can't do. Pharmacists can help mitigate substance misuse and improve patient outcomes by implementing these techniques. All patients who require legitimate and effective pain management through the use of opioids must have access to them. While further study is needed in a variety of areas, pharmacists may make efforts today to follow proposed recommendations, rules, and legislation to reduce drug misuse and diversion of restricted drugs.

Prescription Drug Use and Costs Among Diabetic Patients in Primary Health Care Practices in Germany

Diabetes Care ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 389-397 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Rathmann ◽  
B. Haastert ◽  
J. M. Roseman ◽  
F. A. Gries ◽  
G. Giani
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Primary Health Care ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Prescription Drug ◽  
Diabetic Patients ◽  
Primary Health ◽  
Health Care Practices ◽  
Prescription Drug Use ◽  
Care Practices

scholarly journals Effects of prescription drug diversion, misuse and abuse on the health system in eThekwini District, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: Key stakeholders’ perceptions

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Buyisile Chibi ◽  
Tivani P Mashamba-Thompson
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Law Enforcement ◽  
Health System ◽  
Prescription Drug ◽  
Health Care System ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Drug Diversion ◽  
Key Stakeholders ◽  
Care System

Abstract Background: Prescription drug diversion, misuse and abuse is a growing health threat negatively impacting the health care system and individuals globally. Most research has been conducted in high-income-countries. Little is known about prescription drug diversion, misuse and abuse to support anecdotal reports in resource-limited settings. Purpose: The main objective of this study is to determine prescription drug diversion, misuse and abuse practices in eThekwini district from the perspective of the health care providers, law enforcement, pharmacists, drug users and people living with HIV. Methods: Semi-structured in-depth-interviews were conducted between June-December 2018 among key stakeholders who were purposively sampled in eThekwini district. Thematic analysis was used to identify emergent themes around practices of prescription drug diversion, misuse and abuse. Results: Five main themes emerged during the interviews: manifestation of drug diversion; consumer’s attitude and behaviour; availability of medicines; gaps in the health care system; and lastly challenges and barriers to drug abuse treatment. Accidental addiction, health system gaps and consumer’s attitude and behaviours were perceived as significant contributing factors to the problem therefore negatively impacting health care providers and consumers. Conclusion: The study highlights the emerging practices of prescription drug diversion, misuse and abuse as a serious growing problem occurring through legal and illegal channels to anyone since the addictive medicines are readily available and easily accessible. We recommend a collaborative approach to address prescription drug diversion since the prescriber, dispenser, consumer and law enforcement are involved in the cycle to drug usage.

Screening, Early Identification, and Office-based Intervention With Children and Youth Living in Substance-abusing Families

PEDIATRICS ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 103 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 1099-1112 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark J. Werner ◽  
Alain Joffe ◽  
Antonnette V. Graham
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Early Identification ◽  
Health Professions ◽  
Children And Youth ◽  
Childhood And Adolescence ◽  
Substance Abusing ◽  
Care Providers

All health care professionals with clinical responsibility for the care of children and adolescents must be able to recognize, as early as possible, associated health problems or concerns in children of substance-abusing parents, and to be able to assist these children and families in seeking treatment and promoting health. Health care providers can have a tremendous influence on families of substance-abusing parents because of their understanding of family dynamics and their close long-standing relationship with the family. Information about family alcohol and other drug use should be obtained as part of routine history-taking and when there are indications of family dysfunction, child behavior or emotional problems, school difficulties, and recurring episodes of apparent accidental trauma, and in the setting of recurrent or multiple vague somatic complaints by the child or adolescent. In many instances, family problems with alcohol or drug use are not blatant; rather, their identification requires a deliberate and skilled screening effort. Combining the principles of anticipatory guidance, screening, and early identification, with the acknowledgment that families should be included in the process, leads to a clear conclusion that screening for children affected by parental substance abuse must occur at all ages across infancy, childhood, and adolescence. Health care providers need to be trained in the identification and management of children and youth exposed to parental addiction. Such training must begin during undergraduate education in the health professions and be reinforced by role-modeling among health professions faculty as well as practicing providers.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document