@article{ref1,
title="The characteristics of a cohort who tamper with prescribed and diverted opioid medications",
journal="Journal of substance abuse treatment",
year="2015",
author="Larance, Briony and Lintzeris, Nicholas and Bruno, Raimondo and Peacock, Amy and Cama, Elena and Ali, Robert and Kihas, Ivana and Hordern, Antonia and White, Nancy and Degenhardt, Louisa",
volume="58",
number="",
pages="51-61",
abstract="AIMS: To describe the methods and baseline characteristics of a cohort of people who tamper with pharmaceutical opioids, formed to examine changes in opioid use following introduction of Reformulated OxyContin®. <br><br>METHODS: Participants were 606 people from three Australian jurisdictions who reported past month injecting, snorting, chewing or smoking of a pharmaceutical opioid and had engaged in these practices at least monthly in the past 6months. Baseline interviews were conducted prior to introduction of Reformulated OxyContin® in April 2014. Patterns of opioid use and cohort characteristics were examined according to whether participants were prescribed opioid medications, or exclusively used diverted medication. <br><br>RESULTS: The cohort reported high levels of moderate/severe depression (61%), moderate/severe anxiety (43%), post-traumatic stress disorder (42%), chronic pain or disability (past 6months, 54%) and pain (past month, 47%). Lifetime use of oxycodone, morphine, opioid substitution medications and codeine were common. Three-quarters (77%) reported ICD-10 lifetime pharmaceutical opioid dependence and 40% current heroin dependence. Thirteen percent reported past year overdose, and 70% reported at least one past month opioid injection-related injury or disease. The cohort displayed complex clinical profiles, but participants currently receiving opioid substitution therapy who were also prescribed other opioids particularly reported a wide range of risk behaviors, despite their health service engagement. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Findings highlight the heterogeneity in the patterns and clinical correlates of opioid use among people who tamper with pharmaceutical opioids. Targeted health interventions are essential to reduce the associated harms.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0740-5472",
doi="10.1016/j.jsat.2015.06.001",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jsat.2015.06.001"
}