Drug and alcohol dependence
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Drug Alcohol Depend · Feb 2016
Comparative StudyA comparison of an opioid abuse screening tool and prescription drug monitoring data in the emergency department.
This study aimed to: (a) determine the percentage of ED patients receiving prescriptions for opioid pain medications that meet the criteria for "high-risk for abuse potential" on the Screener and Opioid Assessment for Patients with Pain (SOAPP(®)-R), (b) determine the percentage of patients with high-risk behavior on the state prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) database, (c) compare the SOAPP-R with data from the PDMP, and (d) determine psychometric properties of SOAPP-R for ED patients ⋯ In our population, about one-third of patients being considered for discharge with an opioid prescription scored "at-risk" on SOAPP-R and 15.9% met the PDMP high-risk criteria. The high negative predictive value of SOAPP-R indicates it may be a useful screening tool for the ED patient population.
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Drug Alcohol Depend · Feb 2016
Development of a brief tool for monitoring aberrant behaviours among patients receiving long-term opioid therapy: The Opioid-Related Behaviours In Treatment (ORBIT) scale.
Early identification of problems is essential in minimising the unintended consequences of opioid therapy. This study aimed to develop a brief scale that identifies and quantifies recent aberrant behaviour among diverse patient populations receiving long-term opioid treatment. ⋯ The Opioid-Related Behaviours In Treatment (ORBIT) scale is brief, reliable and validated for use in diverse patient groups receiving opioids. The ORBIT has potential applications as a checklist to prompt clinical discussions and as a tool to quantify aberrant behaviour and assess change over time.
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Drug Alcohol Depend · Feb 2016
Trends in registered medical marijuana participation across 13 US states and District of Columbia.
Medical marijuana (MMJ) laws and policies have evolved rapidly over the past decade in the United States. Public health concerns over the impact of these laws might be influenced by the degree of MMJ participation, but little is known about changes to this population over time. Trends in registered MMJ participation are described for 13 states in the US and District of Columbia (DC) since 2001. ⋯ Participation in MMJ programs varies considerably by state and within states over time. Trends are discussed within the context of federal and state policies, and the availability of marijuana via dispensaries.
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Drug Alcohol Depend · Dec 2015
ReviewNext generation of novel psychoactive substances on the horizon - A complex problem to face.
The last decade has seen a rapid and continuous growth in the availability and use of novel psychoactive substances (NPS) across the world. Although various products are labeled with warnings "not for human consumption", they are intended to mimic psychoactive effects of illicit drugs of abuse. Once some compounds become regulated, new analogues appear in order to satisfy consumers' demands and at the same time to avoid criminalization. This review presents updated information on the second generation of NPS, introduced as replacements of the already banned substances from this class, focusing on their pharmacological properties and metabolism, routes of administration, and effects in humans. ⋯ NPS are constantly emerging on the illicit drug market and represent an important health problem. A significant amount of research is needed in order to fully quantify both the short and long term effects of the second generation NPS, and their interaction with other drugs of abuse.
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Drug Alcohol Depend · Dec 2015
Non-medical use of prescription pain medications and increased emergency department utilization: Results of a national survey.
There are no population-based studies of emergency department (ED) utilization by individuals using prescription pain medications non-medically. We examined whether non-medical use of prescription pain medications was independently associated with increased ED utilization. ⋯ Non-medical use of prescription pain medications is associated with increased ED utilization. Further work is needed to identify the optimal role of ED settings in providing screening, education, and treatment referral for individuals using prescription pain medications non-medically.