Prevalence of Prescription Opioid Abuse
among New Admissions to
OTP’s
Objective:
To determine the prevalence and type of
prescription opioid abuse among admissions to methadone programs and
to describe the relationship between type of opioid drug and pain severity,
psychological distress and dependence severity.
Significance:
Abuse of prescription opioids has reached epidemic proportions,
especially among enrollees in methadone maintenance treatment (MMT)
in certain regions of the United States. Our previous work indicated
that chronic pain contributes to opioid abuse, especially among MMT
patients. However little is known about current and lifetime prevalence
of different types of opioids among methadone enrollees or factors
that may contribute to the use of different types of opioid drugs.
Methods:
In collaboration with the American Association for the Treatment
of Opioid Dependence (AATOD), NDRI is conducting a survey of opioid
abuse among methadone enrollees.
Applications:
The data collected by this study will
help policy makers, government agencies, the pharmaceutical industry
and treatment providers better understand the prevalence of prescription
opioid abuse and assist them in making rational, science-based decisions
regarding the prevention and treatment of this disorder.
1. Rosenblum A, Joseph J, Fong C, Kipnis S, Cleland C, Portenoy R. Prevalence and characteristics of chronic pain among chemically dependent patients in methadone maintenance and residential treatment facilities. JAMA, 18(289):230-2378, 2003.