Journal of pain & palliative care pharmacotherapy
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J Pain Palliat Care Pharmacother · Mar 2017
New Online Tool for Exploring Global Opioid Consumption Data.
Each year for nearly two decades, the Pain & Policy Studies Group (PPSG) has received from the International Narcotics Control Board, the global monitoring body for the implementation of the United Nations international drug control conventions, consumption data for six principal opioids used to treat moderate and severe pain: fentanyl, hydromorphone, methadone, morphine, oxycodone, and pethidine. To provide these statistics to a wider audience, PPSG developed an extensive section of its Web site featuring these data in the form of global, regional, and individual country graphs. ⋯ This tool allows users to select, customize, and create charts of the opioid consumption data and download them for use in presentations or publications. PPSG encourages colleagues to use these tools to explore and study these data to inform their work to improve the accessibility and availability of these important medicines.
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J Pain Palliat Care Pharmacother · Dec 2016
ReviewPrevalence of Prescription Opioid Misuse/Abuse as Determined by International Classification of Diseases Codes: A Systematic Review.
We conducted a systematic review to evaluate worldwide human English published literature from 2009 to 2014 on prevalence of opioid misuse/abuse in retrospective databases where International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes were used. Inclusion criteria for the studies were use of a retrospective database, measured abuse, dependence, and/or poisoning using ICD codes, stated prevalence or it could be derived, and documented time frame. A meta-analysis was not performed. ⋯ Limiting population to continuous opioid users increases prevalence. Prevalence varies depending on ICD codes used, population, time frame, and years studied. Researchers using ICD codes to determine opioid abuse prevalence need to be aware of cautions and limitations.