Illicit Use of Opioids: Is OxyContin® a “Gateway Drug”?

Grau, Lauretta E.; Dasgupta, Nabarun; Harvey, Alison Phinney; Irwin, Kevin; Givens, Anthony; Kinzly, Mark L.; Heimer, Robert

doi:10.1080/10550490701375293

Cited by 169 publications

(75 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…9 The increase in HCV infections among youth and young adults may be attributable to prescription opioid misuse and injection drug use, which has also been increasing in similar age groups. [10][11][12][13] It has been demonstrated that some prescription opioid abusers transition to injection drug use, 6,[14][15][16][17] putting them at increased risk for acquiring blood-borne infections such as HCV and HIV.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hepatitis C Surveillance among Youth and Young Adults in New York City, 2009–2013

2014

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Increases in prescription opioid misuse, injection drug use, and hepatitis C infections have been reported among youth and young adults in the USA, particularly in rural and suburban areas. To better understand these trends in New York City and to characterize demographics and risk factors among a population who, by virtue of their age, are more likely to be recently infected with hepatitis C, we analyzed routine hepatitis C surveillance data from 2009 to 2013 and investigated a sample of persons 30 and younger newly reported with hepatitis C in 2013. Between 2009 and 2013, 4811 persons 30 and younger were newly reported to the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene with hepatitis C. There were high rates of hepatitis C among persons 30 and younger in several neighborhoods that did not have high rates of hepatitis C among older people. Among 402 hepatitis C cases 30 and younger investigated in 2013, the largest proportion (44 %) were white, non-Hispanic, and the most commonly reported risk factor for hepatitis C was injection drug use, mostly heroin. Hepatitis C prevention and harm reduction efforts in NYC focused on young people should target these populations, and surveillance for hepatitis C among young people should be a priority in urban as well as rural and suburban settings.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hepatitis C Surveillance among Youth and Young Adults in New York City, 2009–2013

2014

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“…For instance, in some studies [6], but not others [14], the length of time from Oxycontin ® misuse to injection is shorter compared to other opioid prescription drugs. Preliminary data from our own study indicated that time to injection varied by drug type, with shorter times to injection initiation being reported by users of heroin than other drugs [15].…”

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confidence: 96%

Next steps in research on injection initiation incidence and prevention

Bluthenthal

Kral

2015

Addiction

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“…Unfortunately, Maine (Alexander et al, 2004;Brown et al 2015;Grau et al, 2007;Heimer et al, 2012;Martin & Rocque, 2011;McCall et al, 2013;Roche, 2000;Rosenberg, 2002;Sorg & Greenwald, 2003) has played a prominent role in this national opioid epidemic (Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, 2015;Johnston et al, 2015;Maxwell, 2011;Patrick et al, 2015;Paul et al, 2014;Warner et al, 2011). The total daily opioid dose in morphine equivalents in the United States was highest in Maine (798 mg/person), which was approximately fourfold higher than that in the lowest state.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Use and Misuse of Opioids in Maine: Results From Pharmacists, the Prescription Monitoring, and the Diversion Alert Programs

Piper

Desrosiers²,

Lipovsky³

et al. 2016

J. Stud. Alcohol Drugs

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ABSTRACT. Objective: Although opioids have substantial efficacy for acute pain management, escalation to opioid misuse and abuse is a persistent concern. This report assesses the current status of the opioid epidemic in Maine using three complementary data sets. Method: A representative sample of pharmacists (N = 275) completed an online survey regarding the extent that opioids affected their practice. A countylevel analysis of opioid prescriptions (N = 1.22 million) reported to the Maine Prescription Monitoring Program (M-PMP) in 2014 and the agents implicated in arrests as reported to the Maine Diversion Alert Program (DAP, N = 2,700) in 2014/15 also was completed. Results: A significantly greater number of pharmacists agreed that opioid misuse (85.9%), rather than diversion (76.8%) or access (54.2%), was a concern. Only half (56.2%) reported use of the M-PMP. Opioids were dispensed to 22.4% of residents (37.7% of women in their 80s). This was enough to supply everyone in Maine with a 16.1-day supply. Buprenorphine accounted for almost half of opioid prescriptions to young adults (46.3% women, 49.3% men). Arrests increased by 13.3% from 2014 to 2015, and the proportion of arrests that involved prescription opioids decreased while those involving stimulants and heroin were elevated. Conclusions: Pharmacists are very aware of the potential for opioid misuse, but many do not consistently use the M-PMP. There continues to be substantial legitimate use, as well as criminal activity, involving oxycodone and other prescription opioids. Continued vigilance and use of tools like the PMP and DAP are necessary to minimize nonmedical use of opioids in Maine. (J. Stud. Alcohol Drugs, 77, 556-565, 2016)

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Illicit Use of Opioids: Is OxyContin® a “Gateway Drug”?

Cited by 169 publications

References 15 publications

Hepatitis C Surveillance among Youth and Young Adults in New York City, 2009–2013

Hepatitis C Surveillance among Youth and Young Adults in New York City, 2009–2013

Next steps in research on injection initiation incidence and prevention

Use and Misuse of Opioids in Maine: Results From Pharmacists, the Prescription Monitoring, and the Diversion Alert Programs

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