Citation

Mojtabai R. Pharmacoepidemiol. Drug Saf. 2018; 27(5): 526-534.

Affiliation

Department of Mental Health, Bloomberg School of Public Health and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/pds.4278

PMID

28879660

Abstract

PURPOSE: This study examined recent trends and correlates of prescription opioid use and long-term use in the United States.

METHODS: Data were from 47 356 adult participants of National Health and Nutrition Survey from 1999-2000 to 2013-2014. Participants were asked about prescription medications used in the past 30 days. Long-term use of prescription opioids was defined by use for 90 days or longer.

RESULTS: The prevalence of prescription opioid use increased from 4.1% of US adults in 1999-2000 to 6.8% in 2013-2014 (odds ratio [OR] = 1.38, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.10-1.75, P = .007). This trend was driven by a sharp increase in long-term use which increased from 1.8% to 5.4% (OR = 2.22, 95% CI = 1.65-3.00, P < .001). Of all opioid users in 2013-2014, 79.4% were long-term users compared with 45.1% in 1999-2000. Long-term use was associated with poorer physical health, concurrent benzodiazepine use, and history of heroin use.

CONCLUSIONS: The findings highlight the need for research on potential benefits and harms of long-term use of opioids and efforts to restrict long-term use to patients for whom the benefits outweigh the risks.

Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Language: en

Keywords

drug utilization study; national surveys; pharmacoepidemiology; prescription opioids