Epidemic in disorders related to prescription opioids

13 Oct

From 2003-2013, nonmedical use of prescription opioids decreased among adults in the US. However, the prevalence of disorders related to these drugs, frequency of use and number of related deaths increased, according to a study published in JAMA.[pills]
Though nonmedical use of opioids has decreased, disorders relating to its use have increased.

Researchers call the increase in morbidity and mortality due to prescription opioid abuse an “epidemic.”

In 2013, the 16,200 deaths resulting from prescription opioid disorders exceeded the 14,774 deaths from use of all illicit drugs combined.

The team, led by Dr. Beth Han, PhD, of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration in Rockville, MD, set out to assess national trends in and characteristics of nonmedical prescription opioid use and use disorders, and the national trend in related mortality.

To investigate prevalence and related risk factors, they looked at data from 472,200 participants in the 2003-2013 National Surveys on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH).

Nonmedical use of prescription opioids was defined as “use without a prescription or […] with a prescription, simply for the experience or feeling caused by opioids.”  

Increase in disorders seen

Disorders were classed as dependence on or abuse of: alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, hallucinogens, heroin, inhalants, or nonmedical use of prescription pain relievers, sedatives or stimulants.

The researchers found increased trends in dependence, morbidity and mortality rates:

  • From 2003-2013, prescription opioid dependence rose from 0.4% to 0.6% in people aged over 12
  • Associated Emergency Department visits rose from 82.5 to 184.1 per 100,000 from 2004-2011
  • Prescription opioid related-deaths rose from 1.4 to 5.1 per 100,000 from 1999-2013
  • Drug overdose death rates involving prescription opioids increased from 4.5 per 100,000 in 2003 to 7.8 per 100,000 in 2013.

Medications were bought, stolen or given by friends or relatives, prescribed by physicians, or bought from drug dealers or strangers.

Who is affected?

Disorders were more common among non-Hispanic white users, although the most frequent users of prescription opioids were non-Hispanic black people.

Disorders were more common among people without a high school diploma, those who were disabled for work, people with major depressive episodes, those without health insurance and those with Medicaid coverage rather than private health insurance.

People with dependences on alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, hallucinogens, heroin, stimulants, sedatives and nicotine were also more prone to disorders – as were those who stole or bought drugs, compared with those who received them for free from friends or relatives.

A public health concern

The epidemic in increased high-intensity prescription opioid use represents a major public health concern.

Fast facts about opioids

  • Every day, 44 people in the US die from overdose of prescription painkillers
  • Heroin is a highly addictive opioid drug with a high risk of overdose and death
  • People addicted to prescription opioid painkillers are 40 times more likely than others to become addicted to heroin.

Learn more about addiction

Previous studies have shown a strong relationship between inappropriate opioid prescribing and negative health outcomes; the current trend has occurred at a time when the quantities of opioids prescribed has increased.

From 1999-2002, 57.6% of opioid users took an opioid stronger than morphine or morphine-equivalent; by 2011-12, this figure had increased to 80%.

Use of higher amounts of prescription opioids is a significant risk factor for overdose death.

The team recommends identifying at-risk users to prevent them from developing disorders. They also suggest identifying patterns of inappropriate receipt of prescription opioids. Patients with opioid-related disorders and associated substance use disorders – plus nicotine dependence and depression – should be screened for treatment.

In 2013, over 75% of adults aged 18-64 with a disorder received no treatment – perhaps due to lack of information or taboos about seeking medication-assisted therapies; yet treatment is described as “particularly critical” by the authors.

In a linked editorial, Dr. Lewis Nelson, of New York University School of Medicine, and colleagues say:

“The chronic, relapsing nature of opioid addiction means most patients are never ‘cured,’ and the best outcome is long-term recovery. The lifelong implications of this disease far outweigh the limited benefits of opioids in the treatment of chronic pain, and in many cases the risks inherent in the treatment of acute pain with opioids.”

One limitation of the research is that the survey was unable to cover institutionalized populations, homeless people not living in shelters and active-duty military personnel. In addition, the self-reported nature of some of the information presents a further limitation.

Medical News Today reported earlier this year that people who suffer from back pain and depression may abuse opioid pain killers.

Written by Yvette Brazier

Copyright: Medical News Today


Read more breaking health news on our homepage