Prescription Drug Use Research Pradel, V., Delga,

¶ … Prescription Drug Use Research

Pradel, V., Delga, C., Rouby, F., Micallef, J. And Lapeyre-Mestre, M. (2010). Assessment of Abuse Potential of Benzodiazepines from a Prescription Database Using 'Doctor Shopping' as an Indicator. CNS Drugs, 24(7), 611-620.

This study involved assessing the potential for abuse of several benzodiazepines using so called doctor shopping and to recommend that a "doctor shopping indicator" statistic can be useful in reducing prevalence of prescription drug over-use.

McCabe, S.E., West, B.T., Morales, M., Cranford, J.A., Boyd, C.J. (2008). Does early onset of non-medical use of prescription drugs predict subsequent prescription drug abuse and dependence? Results from a national study. Addiction, 102, pgs. 1920 -- 1930 doi:10.1111/j.1360-0443.2007.02015.x

This study examined the associations between early onset of non-medical use of prescription drugs and the development of prescription drug abuse and dependence in the United States. Research participants comprised a nationally representative cross-sectional sample of civilian non-institutionalized adults aged 18 years or older in the United States with representative samples drawn from both gender and ethnic/racial criteria. Data were collected from structured diagnostic interviews. The researchers found that a higher percentage of individuals who began using prescription drugs non-medically at or before 13 years of age were found to have developed prescription drug abuse and dependence vs. those individuals who began using at or after 21 years of age.

Article 3:

Tetrault, J.M., Desai, R.A, Becker, W.C., Fiellin, D.A., Concato, J., Sullivan, L.E. (2007). Gender and non-medical use of prescription opioids: results from a national U.S. survey, Addiction, 103, 258 -- 268. doi:10.1111/j.1360-0443.2007.02056.x

This research involved examining risk factors for past-year non-medical use of prescription opioids stratified by gender using data obtained from the 2003 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. The researchers measured self-reported alcohol/drug use, with a research emphasis on prescription opoid use. The researchers found that 4.8% of the 55, 023 respondents indicated past-year non-medical use of prescription opioids. Alcohol abuse/dependence and marijuana, hallucinogen, cocaine, non-medical stimulant and sedative/tranquilizer use were associated with past-year non-medical use of prescription opioids, regardless of gender. The researchers concluded that both men and women illicit drug use is associated with the non-medical use of prescription opioids.

Article 4:

Arkes, J. And Iguchi, M. (2008). How Predictors of Prescription Drug Abuse Vary by Age, Journal of Drug Issues, 1027-1044.

Researchers used the 2001 to 2003 National Survey on Drug Use and Health to estimate separate models across five age groups for the past year nonmedical use of prescription drugs. The results indicate that several factors (e.g., gender, race/ethnicity, marital status, other substance use) have quite different correlations with prescription drug abuse across age groups. This suggests that more accurate profiles of prescription drug abusers can be obtained by estimating separate models for different age groups.

Article 5:

Spoth, R., Trudeau, L., Shin, C., and Redmond, C. (2008). Long-term effects of universal preventive interventions on prescription drug misuse Addiction, 103, 1160 -- 1168 doi:10.1111/j.1360-0443.2008.02160.x

Consistent with intervention effects on other substance use outcomes, the researchers found that, using a non-randomized control group experimental design that universal interventions have potential for public health impact by reducing some types of prescription drug misuse among adolescents and young adults.

Article 6:

Rigg, K.K., March, S.J., Inciardi, J.A. (2010). Prescription Drug Abuse & Diversion: Role of the Pain Clinic. Journal of Drug Issues, 681-702.

Researchers sought to better understand the role that pain management clinics may be playing in the abuse and diversion of prescription drugs and explored the characteristics and practices of pain clinics that may be facilitating the drug-seeking endeavors of prescription drug abusers, as well as drug-seeking behaviors of prescription drug abusers who use pain clinics as a primary source for drugs. Using grounded theory strategies, the researchers conducted interviews, then coded answers to find six main themes emerge from participant responses: "pill mills," on-site pharmacies, liberal prescribing habits, "sponsoring" drug diversion, pain doctor/pharmacy shopping, and falsifying symptoms/documentation. Results should provide insights for law enforcement, regulatory agencies, and industry as they attempt to develop appropriate policy initiatives and recommendations for best practices.

Article 7:

Hamilton, G.J. (2009). PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE, Psychology in the Schools, 46(9), DOI: 10.1002/pits.20429

This article presented current statistics on nonmedical use of both categories of prescription medications by high school and college students. Research suggested that two categories of prescription drugs that are commonly used among high school and college students are pain killers and those prescribed for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. The researcher provided both demographic and behavioral characteristics of students who are most likely to engage in intentional abuse of stimulants and pain medications as well as stated motivations for use.

Article 8:

Becker, W.C., Fiellin, D.A., Gallagher, R.M., Barth, K.S., Ross, J.T. And Oslin, D.W. (2009). The Association Between Chronic Pain and Prescription Drug Abuse in Veterans. PAIN MEDICINE, 10(3).

Researchers sought to investigate the association between chronic pain and self-reported prescription drug abuse in a large cohort of patients referred from primary care for a behavioral health assessment. Researchers performed a cross-sectional analysis of responses to a telephone assessment administered to patients referred for a behavioral health evaluation between April 25, 2005 and October 31, 2007. Utilizing both descriptive statistics and multivariable associations such as age, gender, race, financial status, employment, current smoking, drinking problem, past-year illicit drug use, depression, and chronic pain, the researchers found specific variables associated with self-reported prescription drug abuse in primary care patients. Chronic pain is associated both with an indication for prescribing opioids and with abuse of prescription medications.

Article 9:

McCauley, J.L, Danielson, C.K., Amstadter, A.B., Ruggiero, J.K., Resnick, H.S., Hanson, R.F., Smith, D.W., Saunders, B.E., and Kilpatrick, D.G. (2010). The role of traumatic event history in non-medical use of prescription drugs among a nationally representative sample of U.S. adolescents. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 51(1), pp 84 -- 93 doi:10.1111/j.1469-7610.2009.02134.x