TY - JOUR
T1 - Quantifying morbidity associated with the abuse and misuse of opioid analgesics
T2 - A comparison of two approaches
AU - Smith, Meredith Y.
AU - Schneider, Michael F.
AU - Wentz, Alicia
AU - Hughes, Alice
AU - Haddox, J. David
AU - Dart, Richard
PY - 2007/1
Y1 - 2007/1
N2 - Background. Due to the rising nonmedical use of opioid analgesics, methods are needed to quantify the associated health-related consequences. Methods. Using opioid analgesic intentional exposure reports from poison control centers from January 2003-June 2004, we calculated quarterly rates for 7 opioids at the 3-digit ZIP code level using population- and patient-based denominators. Results. Hydrocodone was the most widely prescribed opioid (maximum: 5,321,390 patients per quarter), with the largest intentional exposure caseload (range: 498-1,290), and the highest aggregate population-based rate (maximum of 13.61 cases per 1,000,000 individuals). Methadone had the highest aggregate patient-based rate (maximum 2.03 cases per 1,000 patients). Conclusion. Population- and patient-based rates are complementary tools that address different public health questions. Population-based rates describe the health-related burden of nonmedical opioid analgesic use on the community as a whole, while patient-based rates show this burden ("risk") in relation to the level of corresponding medicinal use ("benefit") within a given area.
AB - Background. Due to the rising nonmedical use of opioid analgesics, methods are needed to quantify the associated health-related consequences. Methods. Using opioid analgesic intentional exposure reports from poison control centers from January 2003-June 2004, we calculated quarterly rates for 7 opioids at the 3-digit ZIP code level using population- and patient-based denominators. Results. Hydrocodone was the most widely prescribed opioid (maximum: 5,321,390 patients per quarter), with the largest intentional exposure caseload (range: 498-1,290), and the highest aggregate population-based rate (maximum of 13.61 cases per 1,000,000 individuals). Methadone had the highest aggregate patient-based rate (maximum 2.03 cases per 1,000 patients). Conclusion. Population- and patient-based rates are complementary tools that address different public health questions. Population-based rates describe the health-related burden of nonmedical opioid analgesic use on the community as a whole, while patient-based rates show this burden ("risk") in relation to the level of corresponding medicinal use ("benefit") within a given area.
KW - Denominator
KW - Drug abuse rates
KW - Intentional exposure
KW - Opioid analgesic abuse and morbidity
KW - Poison control centers
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33847052562&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=33847052562&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/15563650600956170
DO - 10.1080/15563650600956170
M3 - Article
C2 - 17357378
AN - SCOPUS:33847052562
SN - 1556-3650
VL - 45
SP - 23
EP - 30
JO - Clinical Toxicology
JF - Clinical Toxicology
IS - 1
ER -