Drug and alcohol review
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Drug and alcohol review · May 2013
Randomized Controlled TrialPrevalence and key covariates of non-medical prescription opioid use among the general secondary student and adult populations in Ontario, Canada.
To assess the prevalence and key covariates of non-medical prescription opioid use (NMPOU) in two representative surveys of adults (Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Monitor, CM) and secondary-school students (Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey, OSDUHS). ⋯ NMPOU was high in adults and especially students. Independent predictors of NMPOU were largely inconsistent by sex. Notably, NMPOU is widely distributed across socio-demographic and -economic strata, and thus requires broad-based interventions.
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Drug and alcohol review · May 2013
Trends in fentanyl prescriptions and fentanyl-related mortality in Australia.
The study aims to quantify trends in fentanyl prescribing and fentanyl mortality in Australia within the context of concern among health professionals concerning increasing accessibility of fentanyl, and the harms that may arise as a result. ⋯ There have been significant increases in fentanyl prescribing in Australia. It is unclear what proportion of this increase represents legitimate treatment of pain. Fentanyl deaths have also increased, although mortality is currently low in Australia. A large proportion of the deaths involved the injection of diverted fentanyl, highlighting the need for messages regarding safer injecting practices targeting people who inject drugs, and strategies to minimise the risks of diversion.