Drug and alcohol dependence
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Drug Alcohol Depend · Sep 2013
Risk factors for incident nonmedical prescription opioid use and abuse and dependence: results from a longitudinal nationally representative sample.
There has been a significant increase in opioid prescriptions and the prevalence of opioid nonmedical use. Nonmedical use may lead to opioid abuse/dependence, a serious public health concern. The aim of this paper was to determine the mental and physical health predictors of incident nonmedical prescription opioid use (NMPOU) and abuse/dependence, and the impact of comorbidity in a longitudinal, nationally representative sample. ⋯ These results suggest the importance of mental and physical comorbidity as a risk for NMPOU and abuse/dependence, emphasizing the need for careful screening practices when prescribing opioids.
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Drug Alcohol Depend · Sep 2013
Catastrophic thinking and increased risk for prescription opioid misuse in patients with chronic pain.
As a consequence of the substantial rise in the prescription of opioids for the treatment of chronic noncancer pain, greater attention has been paid to the factors that may be associated with an increased risk for prescription opioid misuse. Recently, a growing number of studies have shown that patients with high levels of catastrophizing are at increased risk for prescription opioid misuse. ⋯ Discussion addresses the factors that might place patients with high levels of catastrophizing at increased risk for prescription opioid misuse. The implications of our findings for the management of patients considered for opioid therapy are also discussed.
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Drug Alcohol Depend · Sep 2013
Prescription opioid mortality trends in New York City, 1990-2006: examining the emergence of an epidemic.
The drug overdose mortality rate tripled between 1990 and 2006; prescription opioids have driven this epidemic. We examined the period 1990-2006 to inform our understanding of how the current prescription opioid overdose epidemic emerged in urban areas. ⋯ The distinct epidemiologic profiles exhibited by analgesic and methadone overdose fatalities highlight the need to define drug-specific public health prevention efforts.
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Drug Alcohol Depend · Sep 2013
Non-medical use of prescription drugs, polysubstance use, and mental health in transgender adults.
In recent years, the non-medical use of prescription drugs (NMUPD) has increased dramatically and has been associated with adverse health outcomes. Prior work has not examined this behavior in large samples of transgender adults. ⋯ Prescription drug misuse was relatively common in this sample and was robustly associated with emotional distress. Substance use and mental health interventions for this population may benefit from incorporating the assessment and treatment of NMUPD.
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Drug Alcohol Depend · Sep 2013
Heroin use and heroin use risk behaviors among nonmedical users of prescription opioid pain relievers - United States, 2002-2004 and 2008-2010.
Heroin use and overdose deaths have increased in recent years. Emerging information suggests this is the result of increases in nonmedical use of opioid pain relievers and nonmedical users transitioning to heroin use. Understanding this relationship is critically important for the development of public health interventions. ⋯ Heroin use among nonmedical users of opioid pain relievers increased between 2002-2004 and 2008-2010, with most reporting nonmedical use of opioid pain relievers before initiating heroin. Interventions to prevent nonmedical use of these drugs are needed and should focus on high-risk groups such as frequent nonmedical users of opioids.