• Henry Spiller, J E Bailey, Richard C Dart, and Sarah S Spiller.
• Kentucky Regional Poison Center, Louisville, KY 40232-5070, USA. henry.spiller@nortonhealthcare.org
• J Addict Dis. 2010 Jan 1;29(1):78-83.

AbstractWe analyzed intentional exposures to prescription opioids (buprenorphine, fentanyl, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, morphine, methadone and Oxycodone) using the Research Abuse, Diversion and Addiction-Related Surveillance System (RADARS) Poison Center data over a 5 year period 2003-2007 to see if there were temporal trends in the abuse and misuse of prescription drugs associated with (1) weekends vs. weekdays and (2) during select holiday periods vs. non-holiday periods. Over the study period 25 of 120 holiday period days showed a decrease of at least 1 SD from the mean and 9 of 120 holiday period days showed an increase of at least 1 SD from the mean. Over the study period there were 144,653 intentional exposures. Mean percent of cases by day of week ranged from 14.03% to 14.39%, with slightly higher use on weekend days. There was no significant difference when evaluating prevalence of intentional exposures by day of week (p = 0.99). There was no significant difference when evaluating weekend versus weekday (p > 0.05). In summary, the prevalence of abuse and misuse of prescription drugs was not impacted by day of the week or difference between weekday and weekend. The impact of 8 traditional holidays appeared to be associated with a minor decrease in abuse and misuse of prescription drugs. No temporally related increase in abuse and misuse of prescription drugs was noted and conversely a trend toward decreased abuse and misuse of prescription drugs was suggested.

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