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Attisso E, Guenette L, Dionne CE, Kröger E, Dialahy I, Tessier S, Jean S. New opioid prescription claims and their clinical indications: results from health administrative data in Quebec, Canada, over 14 years. BMJ Open 2024; 14:e077664. [PMID: 38589264 PMCID: PMC11015182 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-077664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Describe new opioid prescription claims, their clinical indications and annual trends among opioid naïve adults covered by the Quebec's public drug insurance plan (QPDIP) for the fiscal years 2006/2007-2019/2020. DESIGN AND SETTING A retrospective observational study was conducted using data collected between 2006/2007 and 2019/2020 within the Quebec Integrated Chronic Disease Surveillance System, a linkage administrative data. PARTICIPANTS A cohort of opioid naïve adults and new opioid users was created for each study year (median number=2 263 380 and 168 183, respectively, over study period). INTERVENTION No. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE AND ANALYSES A new opioid prescription was defined as the first opioid prescription claimed by an opioid naïve adult during a given fiscal year. The annual incidence proportion for each year was then calculated and standardised for age. A hierarchical algorithm was built to identify the most likely clinical indication for this prescription. Descriptive and trend analyses were performed. RESULTS There was a 1.7% decrease of age-standardised annual incidence proportion during the study period, from 7.5% in 2006/2007 to 5.8% in 2019/2020. The decrease was highest after 2016/2017, reaching 5.5% annual percentage change. Median daily dose and days' supply decreased from 27 to 25 morphine milligram equivalent/day and from 5 to 4 days between 2006/2007 and 2019/2020, respectively. Between 2006/2007 and 2019/2020, these prescriptions' most likely clinical indications increased for cancer pain from 34% to 48%, for surgical pain from 31% to 36% and for dental pain from 9% to 11%. Inversely, the musculoskeletal pain decreased from 13% to 2%. There was good consistency between the clinical indications identified by the algorithm and prescriber's specialty or user's characteristics. CONCLUSIONS New opioid prescription claims (incidence, dose and days' supply) decreased slightly over the last 14 years among QPDIP enrollees, especially after 2016/2017. Non-surgical and non-cancer pain became less common as their clinical indication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugene Attisso
- Quebec National Institute of Public Health, Quebec, Quebec, Canada
| | - Line Guenette
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Laval University, Quebec, Quebec, Canada
- Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Quebec, Quebec, Canada
| | - Clermont E Dionne
- Centre de recherche du CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Quebec, Quebec, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Quebec, Quebec, Canada
| | - Edeltraut Kröger
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Laval University, Quebec, Quebec, Canada
- Sustainable Health Research Centre, VITAM, Quebec, Quebec, Canada
| | - Isaora Dialahy
- Quebec National Institute of Public Health, Quebec, Quebec, Canada
| | | | - Sonia Jean
- Quebec National Institute of Public Health, Quebec, Quebec, Canada
- Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Quebec, Quebec, Canada
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Russell C, Law J, Bonn M, Rehm J, Ali F. The increase in benzodiazepine-laced drugs and related risks in Canada: The urgent need for effective and sustainable solutions. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2023; 111:103933. [PMID: 36529033 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2022.103933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Revised: 12/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The overdose crisis in Canada has continuously evolved and is increasingly challenging to contain, while efforts from governments and policymakers to address it have often fallen short and resulted in unintended consequences. One of the main repercussions has been an unprecedented rise in adulterants in the illegal drug supply, including a wide array of pharmacological and psychoactive compounds and chemicals, which has resulted in a progressively toxic drug supply. Most recently, there has been a stark increase in synthetic benzodiazepine-laced opioids (i.e., 'benzodope') in some Canadian jurisdictions. This unique combination carries distinct and amplified risks for people who use drugs including fatal and non-fatal overdoses, increased dependence and withdrawal symptoms, and places them in extremely vulnerable positions. The emergence of benzodiazepines within the illicit drug supply has substantially contributed to drug-related morbidity and mortality in Canada, and has further complicated current public health initiatives and overdose prevention efforts. This reality underscores the need for effective and sustainable policy solutions to address the evolving overdose epidemic including increased knowledge and education on the specific harms of opioid and benzodiazepine co-use (especially in regards to the complexity of opioid/benzodiazepine overdoses), scaling-up harm reduction measures, and eliminating the toxic drug supply altogether.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cayley Russell
- Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), 33 Ursula Franklin St., Toronto, ON, Canada M5S 2S1; Ontario Node, Canadian Research Initiative in Substance Misuse (CRISM), 33 Ursula Franklin St., Toronto, ON, Canada M5S 2S1.
| | - Justine Law
- Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), 33 Ursula Franklin St., Toronto, ON, Canada M5S 2S1; Ontario Node, Canadian Research Initiative in Substance Misuse (CRISM), 33 Ursula Franklin St., Toronto, ON, Canada M5S 2S1
| | - Matthew Bonn
- Canadian Association of People Who Use Drugs, 102-68 Highfield Park Drive, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada B3A 1X4
| | - Jürgen Rehm
- Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), 33 Ursula Franklin St., Toronto, ON, Canada M5S 2S1; Ontario Node, Canadian Research Initiative in Substance Misuse (CRISM), 33 Ursula Franklin St., Toronto, ON, Canada M5S 2S1; Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5S 1A8; Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, 155 College St., Toronto, ON, Canada, M5T 3M7; Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), 1001 Queen St. West, Toronto, ON, Canada, M6J 1H4; Institute of Medical Science (IMS), University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5S 1A8; Institut für Klinische Psychologie und Psychotherapie, Technische Universität Dresden, Chemnitzer Str. 46, 01187 Dresden, Germany; Department of International Health Projects, Institute for Leadership and Health Management, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Bol'shaya Pirogovskaya Ulitsa, 19с1, Moscow, Russia, 119146; Center for Interdisciplinary Addiction Research (ZIS), Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Martinistraße 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Farihah Ali
- Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), 33 Ursula Franklin St., Toronto, ON, Canada M5S 2S1; Ontario Node, Canadian Research Initiative in Substance Misuse (CRISM), 33 Ursula Franklin St., Toronto, ON, Canada M5S 2S1
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3
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Jones W, Kaoser R, Rudoler D, Fischer B. Trends in dispensing of individual prescription opioid formulations, Canada 2005-2020. J Pharm Policy Pract 2022; 15:27. [PMID: 35351208 PMCID: PMC8966300 DOI: 10.1186/s40545-022-00423-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Canada has experienced a distinctly bifurcated pattern of (strong) opioid utilization post-2000, with multifold increases rendering it one of the world’s highest opioid consumption rates, followed by subsequent substantive declines since 2011/2012. Several interventions to control especially high-risk opioid use have been implemented post-2010 at different levels, yet with their effects assessed mostly for overall opioid utilization. Little knowledge exists for over-time patterns of individual opioid formulations. Methods Raw information on community-based prescription opioid dispensing for years 2005–2020 were obtained from a large national database based on a stratified sample of 6500 retail pharmacies across Canada (IQVIA/Compuscript), These data were converted into Defined-Daily-Doses/1000 population/day (DDD/1000/day) for individual (strong and weak) opioid formulations—specifically: fentanyl, hydromorphone, hydrocodone, morphine, oxycodone, codeine—per standard methods. Descriptive data on individual opioid dispensing were computed, and segmented regression (or ‘broken-stick’) analysis was applied to the overtime dispensing towards assessing potentially significant ‘breakpoints’ interrupting linear utilization trends. Akaike information criterion (AIC) values were computed to assess the resulting models’ quality-of-fit. Results Five of the six opioid formulations featured a lower dispensing level in 2020 compared with 2005, but mostly with peak values in years between, contributing to the overall inversion pattern. For five of the six opioid formulations, a three-segmented model emerged as the best fit for the dispensing observed; only hydrocodone presented a linear (downward) dispensing trend. Among the five interrupted trend models for individual formulations, four (fentanyl, morphine, oxycodone, codeine but not hydromorphone) indicated their initial breakpoint during 2011–2014 introducing a downward dispensing trend. Inconsistently, morphine also featured a recent breakpoint (2018) towards a dispensing increase. Conclusions While all opioids showed marked declines, we found heterogeneous patterns of dispensing for individual opioid formulations. While we cannot estimate direct causal effects, opioid control interventions appear to have had differential impacts on dispensing of individual formulations. The earliest breakpoint occurred towards substantive decreases for oxycodone dispensing in 2011; subsequently, there were increases in dispensing of hydromorphone and fentanyl likely due to substitution effects, followed by across-the-board declines post-2015/2016. Recent ‘safer opioid’ distribution programs to reduce illicit/toxic opioid exposure linked with high levels of poisoning fatalities seem to fuel resurgences in select opioid (e.g., morphine) dispensing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wayne Jones
- Centre for Applied Research in Mental Health and Addiction (CARMHA), Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Suite 2400, 515 W. Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC, V6B5K3, Canada
| | - Ridhwana Kaoser
- Centre for Applied Research in Mental Health and Addiction (CARMHA), Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Suite 2400, 515 W. Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC, V6B5K3, Canada
| | - David Rudoler
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ontario Institute of Technology, 2000 Simcoe Street North, Oshawa, ON, L1H 7K4, Canada
| | - Benedikt Fischer
- Centre for Applied Research in Mental Health and Addiction (CARMHA), Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Suite 2400, 515 W. Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC, V6B5K3, Canada. .,Centre for Applied Research in Mental Health & Addiction, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 515 W. Hastings St., Vancouver, BC, V6B5K3, Canada. .,Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, 250 College Street, Toronto, ON, Canada. .,Department of Psychiatry, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), R. Sena Madureira, 1500, Vila Clementino, São Paulo, Brazil.
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Minard LV, Fisher J, Broadfield L, Walsh G, Sketris I. Opioid Use at End-Of-Life Among Nova Scotia Patients With Cancer. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:836864. [PMID: 35401210 PMCID: PMC8987150 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.836864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose: To determine the factors associated with opioid analgesic prescriptions as measured by community pharmacy dispensations to all Nova Scotia (NS) patients with cancer at end-of-life from 2005 to 2009. Methods: The NS Cancer Registry and the NS Prescription Monitoring Program (NSPMP) were used to link Nova Scotians who had a cancer diagnosis and received a prescription for opioids in their last year of life (n = 6,186) from 2005 to 2009. The association of factors with opioid dispensations at end-of-life were determined (e.g., patient demographics, type of prescriber, type of cancer, and opioid type, formulation, and dose). Results: Almost 54% (n = 6,186) of the end-of-life study population with cancer (n = 11,498) was linked to the NSPMP and therefore dispensed opioids. Most prescriptions were written by general practitioners (89%) and were for strong opioids (81%). Immediate-release formulations were more common than modified-release formulations. Although the annual average parenteral morphine equivalents (MEQ) did not change during the study period, the number of opioid prescriptions per patient per year increased from 5.9 in 2006 to 7.0 in 2009 (p < 0.0001). Patients age 80 and over received the fewest prescriptions (mean 3.9/year) and the lowest opioid doses (17.0 MEQ) while patients aged 40–49 received the most prescriptions (mean 14.5/year) and the highest doses of opioid (80.2 MEQ). Conclusion: Our study examined opioid analgesic use at end-of-life in patients with cancer for a large real-world population and determined factors, trends and patterns associated with type and dose of opioid dispensed. We provide information regarding how general practitioners prescribe opioid therapy to patients at end-of-life. Our data suggest that at the time of this study, there may have been under-prescribing of opioids to patients with cancer at end-of-life. This information can be used to increase awareness among general practitioners, and to inform recommendations from professional regulatory bodies, to aid in managing pain for cancer patients at end-of-life. Future work could address how opioid prescribing has changed over time, and whether efforts to reduce opioid prescribing in response to the opioid crisis have affected patients with cancer at end-of-life in Nova Scotia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura V. Minard
- College of Pharmacy, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Judith Fisher
- Nova Scotia Department of Health and Wellness, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | | | - Gordon Walsh
- Nova Scotia Health Cancer Care Program, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Ingrid Sketris
- College of Pharmacy, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- *Correspondence: Ingrid Sketris, mailto:
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Humphreys K, Shover CL, Andrews CM, Bohnert ASB, Brandeau ML, Caulkins JP, Chen JH, Cuéllar MF, Hurd YL, Juurlink DN, Koh HK, Krebs EE, Lembke A, Mackey SC, Larrimore Ouellette L, Suffoletto B, Timko C. Responding to the opioid crisis in North America and beyond: recommendations of the Stanford-Lancet Commission. Lancet 2022; 399:555-604. [PMID: 35122753 PMCID: PMC9261968 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(21)02252-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 182] [Impact Index Per Article: 91.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 08/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Keith Humphreys
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA; Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, USA.
| | - Chelsea L Shover
- Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research, University of California Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Christina M Andrews
- Department of Health Services Policy and Management, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Amy S B Bohnert
- Department of Psychiatry and Department of Anesthesiology, University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Veterans Affairs Center for Clinical Management Research, Veterans Affairs Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Margaret L Brandeau
- Department of Management Science and Engineering, Huang Engineering Center, Stanford University, Stanford, CA USA
| | | | - Jonathan H Chen
- Stanford Center for Biomedical Informatics Research, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA; Division of Hospital Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | - Yasmin L Hurd
- Addiction Institute, Icahn School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - David N Juurlink
- Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Howard K Koh
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Harvard T H Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Erin E Krebs
- Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA; Center for Care Delivery and Outcomes Research, Veterans Affairs Minneapolis Health Care System, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Anna Lembke
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Sean C Mackey
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | | | - Brian Suffoletto
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Christine Timko
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA; Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA, USA
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Enns B, Krebs E, Thomson T, Dale LM, Min JE, Nosyk B. Opioid analgesic prescribing for opioid-naïve individuals prior to identification of opioid use disorder in British Columbia, Canada. Addiction 2021; 116:3422-3432. [PMID: 33861882 DOI: 10.1111/add.15515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Revised: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Prescription opioid analgesics have contributed to the development of opioid use disorder (OUD) in many individuals. We aimed to characterize non-cancer opioid prescribing for opioid-naive individuals prior to OUD identification. DESIGN Population-based retrospective cohort study using six linked health administrative databases. SETTING British Columbia (BC), Canada. PARTICIPANTS People with OUD between 1 January 2001 and 30 September 2018 who initiated opioid analgesic therapy for non-cancer pain prior to OUD identification. MEASUREMENTS Dose (morphine milligram equivalent per day), days prescribed and clinical guideline non-concordance for initial opioid prescriptions (dose ≥ 90 morphine milligram equivalent per day; ≥ 7 days prescribed; concomitant sedative prescription). We estimated the probability of non-concordant initial prescriptions by source (inpatient post-discharge, non-inpatient acute, non-acute) using logistic regression, adjusting for individual characteristics and comorbidities. FINDINGS Among 66 372 individuals identified with OUD from 2001 to 2018, 21 331 (32.1%) received opioid analgesics prior to OUD identification. This proportion increased from 3.0% in 2001 to 41.0% in 2011, before decreasing to 34.2% in 2017. Roughly half of opioid prescriptions were attributed to non-acute care visits, peaking at 56.8% in 2007, while the proportion from inpatient visits increased from 19.7% in 2001 to 28.5% in 2017. The predicted probability of receiving non-guideline concordant prescriptions declined over time-periods across all three measures for inpatient and non-inpatient acute care, while remaining stable for non-acute care. In particular, the predicted probability of receiving ≥ 7-day prescriptions following inpatient visits decreased from 53.3% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 50.9, 55.8%] in 2001-06 to 37.2% (95% CI = 33.9, 40.5%) in 2013-18. CONCLUSIONS Among the 66 372 individuals in British Columbia, Canada diagnosed with opioid use disorder between 2001 and 2018, more than 32% were earlier prescribed non-cancer opioid analgesics. The proportion who had received an opioid analgesic prescription prior to OUD identification peaked at more than 40% in 2011, before stabilizing between 2011 and 2016 and declining thereafter. Guideline concordance improved over time for high-dose and concomitant sedative prescribing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Enns
- BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Emanuel Krebs
- BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Trevor Thomson
- BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Laura M Dale
- BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Jeong Eun Min
- BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Bohdan Nosyk
- BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
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Jones W, Kaoser R, Fischer B. Patterns, trends and determinants of medical opioid utilization in Canada 2005-2020: characterizing an era of intensive rise and fall. Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy 2021; 16:65. [PMID: 34521418 PMCID: PMC8438558 DOI: 10.1186/s13011-021-00396-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Into the 21st century, the conflation of high rates of chronic pain, systemic gaps in treatment availability and access, and the arrival of potent new opioid medications (e.g., slow-release oxycodone) facilitated strong increases in medical opioid dispensing in Canada. These persisted until post-2010 alongside rising opioid-related adverse (e.g., morbidity/mortality) outcomes. We examine patterns, trends and determinants of opioid dispensing in Canada, and specifically its 10 provinces, for the years 2005-2020. METHODS Raw data on prescription opioid dispensing were obtained from a large national community-based pharmacy database (IQVIA/Compuscript), converted into Defined-Daily-Doses/1,000 population/day for 'strong' and 'weak' opioid categories per standard methods. Dispensing by opioid category and formulations by province/year was assessed descriptively; regression analysis was applied to examine possible segmentation of over-time strong opioid dispensing. RESULTS All provinces reported starkly increasing strong opioid dispensing peaking 2011-2016, and subsequent marked declines. About half reported lower strong opioid dispensing in 2020 compared to 2005, with continuous inter-provincial differences of > 100 %; weak opioids also declined post-2011/12. Segmented regression suggests breakpoints for strong opioids in 2011/12 and 2015/16, coinciding with main interventions (e.g., selective opioid delisting, new prescribing guidelines) towards more restrictive opioid utilization control. CONCLUSIONS We characterized an era of marked rise and fall, while featuring stark inter-provincial heterogeneity in opioid dispensing in Canada. While little evidence for improvements in pain care outcomes exists, the starkly inverting opioid utilization have been associated with extensive population-level harms (e.g., misuse, morbidity, mortality) over-time. This national case study raises fundamental questions for opioid-related health policy and practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wayne Jones
- Centre for Applied Research in Mental Health and Addiction (CARMHA), Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Suite 2400, 515 W. Hastings Street, British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Ridhwana Kaoser
- Centre for Applied Research in Mental Health and Addiction (CARMHA), Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Suite 2400, 515 W. Hastings Street, British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Benedikt Fischer
- Centre for Applied Research in Mental Health and Addiction (CARMHA), Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Suite 2400, 515 W. Hastings Street, British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
- Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, 85 Park Road, Auckland, 1023, Grafton, New Zealand.
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, 250 College Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Department of Psychiatry, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), R. Sena Madureira, 1500 - Vila Clementino, São Paulo, Brazil.
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Staples JA, Erdelyi S, Moe J, Khan M, Chan H, Brubacher JR. Prescription opioid use among drivers in British Columbia, 1997–2016. Inj Prev 2021; 27:527-534. [DOI: 10.1136/injuryprev-2020-043989] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Revised: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
BackgroundOpioids increase the risk of traffic crash by limiting coordination, slowing reflexes, impairing concentration and producing drowsiness. The epidemiology of prescription opioid use among drivers remains uncertain. We aimed to examine population-based trends and geographical variation in drivers’ prescription opioid consumption.MethodsWe linked 20 years of province-wide driving records to comprehensive population-based prescription data for all drivers in British Columbia (Canada). We calculated age- and sex-standardised rates of prescription opioid consumption. We assessed temporal trends using segmented linear regression and examined regional variation in prescription opioid use using maps and graphical techniques.ResultsA total of 46 million opioid prescriptions were filled by 3.0 million licensed drivers between 1997 and 2016. In 2016 alone, 14.7% of all drivers filled at least one opioid prescription. Prescription opioid use increased from 238 morphine milligram equivalents per driver year (MMEs/DY) in 1997 to a peak of 834 MMEs/DY in 2011. Increases in MMEs/DY were greatest for higher potency and long-acting prescription opioids. The interquartile range of prescription opioid dispensation by geographical region increased from 97 (Q1=220, Q3=317) to 416 (Q1=591, Q3=1007) MMEs/DY over the study interval.ImplicationsPatterns of prescription opioid consumption among drivers demonstrate substantial temporal and geographical variation, suggesting they may be modified by clinical and policy interventions. Interventions to curtail use of potentially impairing prescription medications might prevent impaired driving.
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Jones W, Vojtila L, Kurdyak P, Fischer B. Prescription opioid dispensing in Canada: an update on recent developments to 2018. J Pharm Policy Pract 2020; 13:68. [PMID: 33110608 PMCID: PMC7583232 DOI: 10.1186/s40545-020-00271-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2019] [Accepted: 09/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Canada has been home to comparatively extreme developments in prescription opioid (PO) availability and related harms (e.g. morbidity, mortality) post-2000. Following persistent pan-Canadian increases in PO use, select control measures were implemented and PO dispensing levels—while only inconsistently by province—inverted, and began to plateau or decrease post-2012. We examined annual PO dispensing levels in Canada up until 2018, based on representative prescription sample data from community-based retail pharmacies. Annual prescription-based dispensing data were converted into defined daily doses/1000 population/day by province, and mainly categorized into ‘weak’ and ‘strong’ opioids. All provinces indicated decreasing trends in strong PO levels in most recent years, yet with inter-provincial differences of up to one magnitude in 2018; in about half the provinces, dispensing fell to below-2005 levels. British Columbia had the largest decline in strong PO dispensing from its peak rate (− 48.5%) in 2011. Weak opioid dispensing trends remained more inconsistent and bifurcated across Canada. The distinct effects of individual—including many provincially initiated and governed—PO control measures urgently need to be evaluated. In the meantime, recent reductions in general PO availability across Canada appear to have contributed to shortages in opioid supply for existent, sizable (including non-medical) user populations and may have contributed to recent marked increases in illicit opioid use and harms (including rising deaths).
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Affiliation(s)
- Wayne Jones
- Centre for Applied Research in Mental Health and Addiction (CARMHA), Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Lenka Vojtila
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 33 Russell Street, Toronto, Ontario Canada
| | - Paul Kurdyak
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 33 Russell Street, Toronto, Ontario Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, 250 College Street, 8th floor, Toronto, Ontario Canada.,Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES), 2075 Bayview Ave, Toronto, Ontario Canada
| | - Benedikt Fischer
- Centre for Applied Research in Mental Health and Addiction (CARMHA), Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, 250 College Street, 8th floor, Toronto, Ontario Canada.,Schools of Population Health and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.,Department of Psychiatry, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), R. Sena Madureira, 1500 - Vila Clementino, São Paulo, Brazil
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Vojtila L, Pang M, Goldman B, Kurdyak P, Fischer B. Non-medical opioid use, harms, and interventions in Canada – a 10-year update on an unprecedented substance use-related public health crisis. DRUGS: EDUCATION, PREVENTION AND POLICY 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/09687637.2019.1645094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lenka Vojtila
- Institute for Mental Health Policy Research (IMHPR), Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Michelle Pang
- Institute for Mental Health Policy Research (IMHPR), Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Centre for Applied Research in Mental Health and Addiction (CARMHA), Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Brian Goldman
- FACEP, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Paul Kurdyak
- Institute for Mental Health Policy Research (IMHPR), Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES), Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Benedikt Fischer
- Centre for Applied Research in Mental Health and Addiction (CARMHA), Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), R. Dr. Ovídio Pires de Campos, São Paulo, Brazil
- Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Grafton, Auckland, New Zealand
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A decade of extreme oscillations in opioid control and availability: implications for public health in a Canadian setting. J Public Health Policy 2020; 41:214-220. [PMID: 32054979 DOI: 10.1057/s41271-019-00214-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
We comment on developments in and impacts of medical opioid control and availability in the province of British Columbia (Canada). Population-level dispensing of (strong) prescription opioids doubled in 2005-2011, yet subsequently declined by half 2011-2018 following implementation of various opioid control measures. Notwithstanding this inversion, BC has featured the highest population rates of opioid-related mortality and morbidity in Canada. The erratic opioid availability patterns presumably facilitated major increases in opioid misuse, morbidity, and mortality. Tangible benefits for pain care from increased medical opioid availability remain un-evidenced. Rather, recent decreases in medical opioid dispensing have not been matched by equivalent reductions in demand for (non-)medical use yet have coincided with widespread proliferation of toxic, illicit opioid supply and related major increases in opioid-related mortality. These developments appear to have undermined rather than benefitted public health and offer a poignant case study in ineffective psychotropic drug control and public health policy towards preventing similar experiences elsewhere.
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Wilson MN, Hayden JA, Rhodes E, Robinson A, Asbridge M. Effectiveness of Prescription Monitoring Programs in Reducing Opioid Prescribing, Dispensing, and Use Outcomes: A Systematic Review. THE JOURNAL OF PAIN 2019; 20:1383-1393. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2019.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2019] [Revised: 03/15/2019] [Accepted: 04/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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Rhodes E, Wilson M, Robinson A, Hayden JA, Asbridge M. The effectiveness of prescription drug monitoring programs at reducing opioid-related harms and consequences: a systematic review. BMC Health Serv Res 2019; 19:784. [PMID: 31675963 PMCID: PMC6825333 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-019-4642-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2019] [Accepted: 10/15/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In order to address the opioid crisis in North America, many regions have adopted preventative strategies, such as prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs). PDMPs aim to increase patient safety by certifying that opioids are prescribed in appropriate quantities. We aimed to synthesize the literature on changes in opioid-related harms and consequences, an important measure of PDMP effectiveness. METHODS We completed a systematic review. We conducted a narrative synthesis of opioid-related harms and consequences from PDMP implementation. Outcomes were grouped into categories by theme: opioid dependence, opioid-related care outcomes, opioid-related adverse events, and opioid-related legal and crime outcomes. RESULTS We included a total of 22 studies (49 PDMPs) in our review. Two studies reported on illicit and problematic use but found no significant associations with PDMP status. Eight studies examined the association between PDMP status and opioid-related care outcomes, of which two found that treatment admissions for prescriptions opioids were lower in states with PDMP programs (p < 0.05). Of the thirteen studies that reported on opioid-related adverse events, two found significant (p < 0.001 and p < 0.05) but conflicting results with one finding a decrease in opioid-related overdose deaths after PDMP implementation and the other an increase. Lastly, two studies found no statistically significant association between PDMP status and opioid-related legal and crime outcomes (crime rates, identification of potential dealers, and diversion). CONCLUSION Our study found limited evidence to support overall associations between PDMPs and reductions in opioid-related consequences. However, this should not detract from the value of PDMPs' larger role of improving opioid prescribing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Rhodes
- Department of Community Health & Epidemiology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS Canada
| | - Maria Wilson
- Department of Community Health & Epidemiology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS Canada
| | - Alysia Robinson
- Department of Community Health & Epidemiology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS Canada
| | - Jill A. Hayden
- Department of Community Health & Epidemiology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS Canada
| | - Mark Asbridge
- Department of Community Health & Epidemiology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS Canada
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS Canada
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Matthews DC, Brillant MGS, Jimoh KO, Singleton W, McLean-Veysey P, Sketris I. Patterns of opioid prescribing by dentists in a pediatric population: a retrospective observational study. CMAJ Open 2019; 7:E497-E503. [PMID: 31387858 PMCID: PMC6685778 DOI: 10.9778/cmajo.20190021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dentists are regular prescribers of opioid analgesic medications; however, there are few published data on their prescribing practices for children. The aim of this study was to assess opioid prescribing practices of dentists for pediatric patients. METHODS We conducted a retrospective study (2011/12 to 2017/18) using administrative health data of opioid prescribing practices of dentists in Nova Scotia for children and adolescents (age < 18 yr). The main variables of interest were opioid "type" and "load" dentists prescribed (number of dispensed prescriptions/yr, days supplied/prescription and dosage/d per prescription in milligrams of morphine equivalents [MME]). RESULTS Dentists accounted for a mean of 18.3% (standard deviation 1.5%) of all opioid prescribers for the pediatric population annually but were responsible for 59.9% of all opioid prescriptions and 48.6% of total MME dispensed during the 7-year study period. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons were responsible for 80.7% of all dental-related opioids dispensed. Codeine was most frequently prescribed (78.6% of total MME), followed by oxycodone (11.1%). There were significant downward trends over the study period in the total amount of opioid analgesics dispensed (r = -0.903, p < 0.01), primarily due to a reduction in the total amount of codeine dispensed and number of days supplied per prescription (r = -0.837, p < 0.05). Few opioids were dispensed to children less than 12 years. INTERPRETATION Dentists in Nova Scotia reduced prescriptions of opioids in the pediatric population between 2011/12 and 2017/18, which may indicate that current opioid prescribing principles are influencing dentists' prescribing habits. Nonetheless, patients and parents should receive appropriate counselling as to the proper use, risks, storage and potential for misuse of opioids when prescribed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debora C Matthews
- Faculty of Dentistry (Matthews, Brilliant), Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS; private practice (Jimoh), Truro, NS; MetroHealth System (Singleton), Cleveland, Ohio; Nova Scotia Health Authority (McLean-Veysey); College of Pharmacy (Sketris), Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS
| | - Martha G S Brillant
- Faculty of Dentistry (Matthews, Brilliant), Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS; private practice (Jimoh), Truro, NS; MetroHealth System (Singleton), Cleveland, Ohio; Nova Scotia Health Authority (McLean-Veysey); College of Pharmacy (Sketris), Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS
| | - Kudirat O Jimoh
- Faculty of Dentistry (Matthews, Brilliant), Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS; private practice (Jimoh), Truro, NS; MetroHealth System (Singleton), Cleveland, Ohio; Nova Scotia Health Authority (McLean-Veysey); College of Pharmacy (Sketris), Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS
| | - Winston Singleton
- Faculty of Dentistry (Matthews, Brilliant), Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS; private practice (Jimoh), Truro, NS; MetroHealth System (Singleton), Cleveland, Ohio; Nova Scotia Health Authority (McLean-Veysey); College of Pharmacy (Sketris), Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS
| | - Pamela McLean-Veysey
- Faculty of Dentistry (Matthews, Brilliant), Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS; private practice (Jimoh), Truro, NS; MetroHealth System (Singleton), Cleveland, Ohio; Nova Scotia Health Authority (McLean-Veysey); College of Pharmacy (Sketris), Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS
| | - Ingrid Sketris
- Faculty of Dentistry (Matthews, Brilliant), Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS; private practice (Jimoh), Truro, NS; MetroHealth System (Singleton), Cleveland, Ohio; Nova Scotia Health Authority (McLean-Veysey); College of Pharmacy (Sketris), Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS
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Freeman PR, Curran GM, Drummond KL, Martin BC, Teeter BS, Bradley K, Schoenberg N, Edlund MJ. Utilization of prescription drug monitoring programs for prescribing and dispensing decisions: Results from a multi-site qualitative study. Res Social Adm Pharm 2019; 15:754-760. [PMID: 30243575 PMCID: PMC6417986 DOI: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2018.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2018] [Revised: 08/08/2018] [Accepted: 09/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) track the dispensing of prescription-controlled substances with the goal of mitigating misuse and diversion. Authorized users query the PDMP for controlled substance prescription histories at the point of care. Despite widespread implementation of PDMPs, there is much not known about how PDMPs influence prescribing and dispensing decisions. OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to investigate how primary care providers (PCPs) and pharmacists utilize PDMPs when making prescribing and dispensing decisions. METHODS Data from in-depth, qualitative interviews with PCPs (n = 48) and community pharmacists (n = 60) across four states- Arkansas, Idaho, Kentucky, and Washington were analyzed for themes around PDMP use. RESULTS Both PCPs and pharmacists reported that PDMPs are key tools for aiding prescribing and dispensing decisions. PCPs reported variable use of PDMPs with most querying the PDMP when there are "red flags" and fewer reporting having clinic policies that direct PDMP use. Primary care providers in Kentucky reported more consistent and routine use of the PDMP as a result of a state law that mandates query prior to the initial prescribing of Schedule II controlled substances. Community pharmacists practicing in chain pharmacies reported formal policies requiring PDMP query prior to dispensing opioids, while utilization of PDMPs by pharmacists practicing in independently-owned pharmacies was more variable. Pharmacists and PCPs reported barriers to PDMP use, such as having to "log in on a separate machine" and perceived that PDMP utility could be improved by integrating it within pharmacy dispensing systems and electronic health records. CONCLUSIONS Pharmacists and PCPs reported the importance of PDMP information to aid their prescribing and dispensing decisions. Efforts to enhance state PDMP programs should consider processes that seamlessly integrate all available controlled substance prescription history for a given patient at the point of care so that PDMP utility for prescribing and dispensing decisions is maximized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia R Freeman
- University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy, 789 South Limestone Street, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA.
| | - Geoffrey M Curran
- University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham St., #522-4, Little Rock, AR, 72205-7199, USA; Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, 2200 Fort Roots Drive, North Little Rock, AR, 72114, USA
| | - Karen L Drummond
- University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham St., #522-4, Little Rock, AR, 72205-7199, USA; Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, 2200 Fort Roots Drive, North Little Rock, AR, 72114, USA
| | - Bradley C Martin
- University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham St., #522-4, Little Rock, AR, 72205-7199, USA; Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, 2200 Fort Roots Drive, North Little Rock, AR, 72114, USA
| | - Benjamin S Teeter
- University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham St., #522-4, Little Rock, AR, 72205-7199, USA
| | - Katharine Bradley
- Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, 1730 Minor Ave, Seattle, WA, 98101, USA
| | - Nancy Schoenberg
- University of Kentucky College of Medicine, 125 Medical Behavioral Science Office Building, Lexington, KY, 40536-0086, USA
| | - Mark J Edlund
- RTI International, 3040 East Cornwallis Road, P.O. Box 12194, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709-2194, USA
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Characteristics and Red Flag Correlates of Psychiatric Outpatients in a Mandated-Use Prescription Drug Monitoring Program State: A PBRN Card Study. ADDICTIVE DISORDERS & THEIR TREATMENT 2019; 18:36-43. [PMID: 31073282 DOI: 10.1097/adt.0000000000000147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Objectives All 50 states have implemented a Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) in efforts to control prescription drug abuse. Many now mandate PDMP checks before clinicians prescribe controlled substances. The aim of this study was to characterize the associations between patient characteristics, red flags found on PDMP reports, and prescriber behavior at community mental health agencies. Methods Prescribers at 9 practice sites, in five regional community mental health centers, were recruited by a practice-based research network (PBRN) to participate in a Card Study. Prescribers completed a PDMP attitudes survey, and cards were completed for patients who had PDMP reports checked. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results Thirty nine providers completed cards for n=249 unique patient encounters. Over 1/3 of all patients reported an addiction disorder (38%) or a diagnosis of chronic pain (34%). Twenty percent of PDMP reports were found to have red flags, most commonly multiple prescribers or multiple pharmacies. Red flags were associated with race (p<.0.05), presence of chronic pain (p<0.01), presence of an addiction diagnosis (p<0.05), use of opioids (p<0.001), and non-adherence with treatment (p<0.006). Among prescribers, red flags were associated with lower prescribing rates (p<0.01), and decisions to decrease dosage (p<0.002). Conclusions Red flags were commonly found on PDMP reports done in community mental health settings, and were associated with important patient characteristics and diagnostic factors. PBRN research methods can be leveraged to obtain real-time observational data about psychiatric prescribers' use of PDMP reports in clinical decision-making in different settings.
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Fischer B, Kurdyak P, Jones W. Tramadol dispensing patterns and trends in Canada, 2007-2016. Pharmacoepidemiol Drug Saf 2018; 28:396-400. [PMID: 30548353 DOI: 10.1002/pds.4679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2017] [Revised: 04/27/2018] [Accepted: 09/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Opioid use and associated mortality and morbidity have substantially increased in Canada, which recent interventions have aimed to reduce. Tramadol is an atypical prescription-only (but unscheduled under Canada's narcotics law) opioid analgesic and not subject to controls for other (eg, strong) opioids. Given experiences in different jurisdictions, tramadol may have been increasingly dispensed as a "substitute" drug during a period with increasingly restrictive controls for other (scheduled) opioids. METHODS We examined the annual population-level retail dispensing (as a proxy for use) of tramadol and (scheduled) "strong opioids" in Canadian provinces for 2007-2016 based on data from a representative national sample of community pharmacies, covering the majority of episodes of opioid dispensing. Data for both aforementioned formulation categories were converted into defined daily doses (DDD)/1000 population/day and examined descriptively and by segmented regression analyses (to identify significant breakpoints in trends). RESULTS Tramadol use strongly increased in all provinces until 2009. After 2009, tramadol dispensing levels either decelerated their increase or plateaued; "strong opioid" dispensing levels, in comparison, increased strongly until 2011 and decelerated or decreased for the remaining period. Tramadol was consistently dispensed at lower levels than "strong opioids." CONCLUSIONS Tramadol and "strong opioids" showed similar (bifurcated) use trends, with initial increases and subsequent inflections, yet reductions in dispensing occurred earlier for tramadol than for "strong opioids" (the latter occurring following with recent interventions). Distinct from experiences with differential opioid control regimes elsewhere, there is no evidence that tramadol figured as a "substitution" drug for increasingly restricted "strong opioids" in Canada.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedikt Fischer
- Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Institute of Medical Science (IMS), University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Centre for Criminology and Socio-legal Studies, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Centre for Applied Research in Mental Health and Addiction, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Paul Kurdyak
- Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), Toronto, Canada.,Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Mental Health and Addictions Research Program, Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, Canada
| | - Wayne Jones
- Centre for Applied Research in Mental Health and Addiction, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, Canada
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Furlan AD, Carnide N, Irvin E, Van Eerd D, Munhall C, Kim J, Li CMF, Hamad A, Mahood Q, MacDonald S. A systematic review of strategies to improve appropriate use of opioids and to reduce opioid use disorder and deaths from prescription opioids. Can J Pain 2018; 2:218-235. [PMID: 35005381 PMCID: PMC8730669 DOI: 10.1080/24740527.2018.1479842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Abuse of prescription opioids is a serious problem in North America. Aims The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review of peer-reviewed and grey literature to examine existing strategies aimed at improving the appropriate use of prescription opioids and/or reducing the misuse, abuse, and diversion of these drugs. Methods The following electronic databases were searched to September 2015 without language restrictions: MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsycINFO, and CINAHL; the grey literature was searched to May 2014. Reference lists of retrieved papers were also searched. Studies were eligible if a strategy was implemented and its impact on at least one of the primary outcomes of interest (appropriate prescription opioid use; misuse, abuse, opioid use disorder, diversion; overdose) was measured. Standardized, prepiloted forms were used for relevance screening, quality appraisal, and data extraction. Results A total of 65 studies that assessed 66 distinct strategies were identified. Due to the heterogeneity of the strategies, a qualitative synthesis was conducted. Many studies combined more than one type of strategy and measured various types of outcomes. The strategies with most promising results involved education, clinical practices, collaborations, prescription monitoring programs, public campaigns, opioid substitution programs, and naloxone distribution. We also found strategies that had some unintended consequences after implementation. Conclusions Our review identified successful strategies that have been implemented and evaluated in various jurisdictions. There is a need to replicate and disseminate these strategies where the problem of prescription opioid misuse and abuse has taken a toll on society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea D Furlan
- Institute for Work & Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Nancy Carnide
- Institute for Work & Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Emma Irvin
- Institute for Work & Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | | | - Jaemin Kim
- Institute for Work & Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Abdul Hamad
- University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Quenby Mahood
- Institute for Work & Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Pauly NJ, Slavova S, Delcher C, Freeman PR, Talbert J. Features of prescription drug monitoring programs associated with reduced rates of prescription opioid-related poisonings. Drug Alcohol Depend 2018; 184:26-32. [PMID: 29402676 PMCID: PMC5854200 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2017.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2017] [Revised: 12/01/2017] [Accepted: 12/02/2017] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The United States is in the midst of an opioid epidemic. In addition to other system-level interventions, all states have responded during the crisis by implementing prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs). This study examines associations between specific administrative features of PDMPs and changes in the risk of prescription opioid-related poisoning (RxORP) over time. METHODS This longitudinal, observational study utilized a 'natural experiment' design to assess associations between PDMP features and risk of RxORP in a nationally-representative population of privately-insured adults from 2004 to 2014. Administrative health claims data were used to identify inpatient hospital admissions and emergency department visits related to RxORP. Generalized estimating equation Poisson regression models were used to examine associations between specific PDMP features and changes in relative risk (RR) of RxORP over time. RESULTS In adjusted analyses, states without PDMPs experienced an average annual increase in the rate of RxORP of 9.51% over the study period, while states with operational PDMPs experienced an average annual increase of 3.17%. The increase in RR of RxORP over time in states with operational PDMPs was significantly less than increases in states without PDMPs. States with specific features, including those that monitored more schedules or required more frequent data reporting, experienced stronger protective effects on the RR of RxORP over time. CONCLUSION This study examined associations between specific PDMP features and RxORP rates in a nationally-representative population of privately-insured adults. Results of this study may be used as empirical evidence to guide PDMP best practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- N J Pauly
- Institute for Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy, 789 South Limestone, Lexington, KY 40536, United States.
| | - S Slavova
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Kentucky College of Public Health, 333 Waller Avenue, Suite 242, Lexington, KY 40504, United States
| | - C Delcher
- Department of Health Outcomes and Policy, University of Florida, 2004 Mowry Road, Suite 2237, P.O. Box 100177, Gainesville, FL 32610, United States
| | - P R Freeman
- Institute for Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy, 789 South Limestone, Lexington, KY 40536, United States
| | - J Talbert
- Institute for Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy, 789 South Limestone, Lexington, KY 40536, United States
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20
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Prescriptions Written for Opioid Pain Medication in the Veterans Health Administration Between 2000 and 2016. J Addict Med 2017; 11:483-488. [DOI: 10.1097/adm.0000000000000352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Fischer B, Rehm J, Tyndall M. Effective Canadian policy to reduce harms from prescription opioids: learning from past failures. CMAJ 2016; 188:1240-1244. [PMID: 27821465 DOI: 10.1503/cmaj.160356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Benedikt Fischer
- Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (Fischer, Rehm); Department of Psychiatry (Fischer, Rehm), University of Toronto; Institute of Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine (Fischer, Rehm), University of Toronto; Dalla Lana School of Public Health (Rehm), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont.; Department of Medicine (Tyndall), Faculty of Medicine, The University of British Columbia; BC Centre for Disease Control (Tyndall), Vancouver, BC
| | - Jürgen Rehm
- Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (Fischer, Rehm); Department of Psychiatry (Fischer, Rehm), University of Toronto; Institute of Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine (Fischer, Rehm), University of Toronto; Dalla Lana School of Public Health (Rehm), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont.; Department of Medicine (Tyndall), Faculty of Medicine, The University of British Columbia; BC Centre for Disease Control (Tyndall), Vancouver, BC
| | - Mark Tyndall
- Institute for Mental Health Policy Research, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (Fischer, Rehm); Department of Psychiatry (Fischer, Rehm), University of Toronto; Institute of Medical Science, Faculty of Medicine (Fischer, Rehm), University of Toronto; Dalla Lana School of Public Health (Rehm), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont.; Department of Medicine (Tyndall), Faculty of Medicine, The University of British Columbia; BC Centre for Disease Control (Tyndall), Vancouver, BC
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Argento E, Chettiar J, Nguyen P, Montaner J, Shannon K. Prevalence and correlates of nonmedical prescription opioid use among a cohort of sex workers in Vancouver, Canada. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2014; 26:59-66. [PMID: 25148695 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2014.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2014] [Revised: 07/09/2014] [Accepted: 07/22/2014] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The nonmedical use of prescription opioids (POs) is a major public health concern, causing extensive morbidity and mortality in North America. Canada has the second highest consumption rate of POs globally and data indicate nonmedical PO use (NPOU) is growing among key populations and increasingly available in street-level drug markets. Despite accumulating evidence documenting the rise of NPOU, few studies have systematically examined NPOU in Canada among key vulnerable populations, such as sex workers. This study prospectively evaluated the prevalence and correlates of NPOU within a Vancouver cohort of sex workers over three-years follow-up. METHODS Data were drawn from an open prospective cohort, AESHA (An Evaluation of Sex Workers Health Access) in Metro Vancouver, Canada (2010-2013). Women were recruited through outreach from outdoor street locations and indoor venues. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression using Generalized Estimating Equations (GEE) were used to examine social and structural correlates of NPOU over 36 months. RESULTS Of the 692 sex workers at baseline, close to one-fifth (n=130, 18.8%) reported NPOU (injection or non-injection) in the last six months. In multivariable GEE analyses, factors independently correlated with recent NPOU were: exchanging sex while high (AOR 3.26, 95%CI 2.29-4.64), police harassment/arrest (AOR 1.83, 95%CI 1.43-2.35), intimate partner injects drugs (AOR 1.66, 95%CI 1.11-2.49), and recent physical/sexual intimate partner violence (AOR 1.65, 95%CI 1.21-2.24). CONCLUSION Our results demonstrate that nearly one-fifth of sex workers in Metro Vancouver report NPOU. Factors independently statistically associated with NPOU included exchanging sex while high, police harassment/arrest, a drug injecting intimate partner and recent physical/sexual intimate partner violence. The high prevalence of NPOU use among sex workers underscores the need for further prevention and management strategies tailored to this key population. The correlates of NPOU uncovered here suggest that structural interventions may be further implemented to ameliorate this growing concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Argento
- British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, St. Paul's Hospital, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6Z 1Y6
| | - Jill Chettiar
- British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, St. Paul's Hospital, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6Z 1Y6; School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, 5804 Fairview Avenue, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z3
| | - Paul Nguyen
- British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, St. Paul's Hospital, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6Z 1Y6
| | - Julio Montaner
- British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, St. Paul's Hospital, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6Z 1Y6; Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, St. Paul's Hospital, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6Z 1Y6
| | - Kate Shannon
- British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, St. Paul's Hospital, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6Z 1Y6; School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, 5804 Fairview Avenue, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z3; Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, St. Paul's Hospital, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6Z 1Y6.
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