Use and misuse of opioids in Maine: results from pharmacists, the prescription monitoring, and the diversion alert programs.
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
7-2016
Institution/Department
Pharmacy
Journal Title
Journal of studies on alcohol and drugs
MeSH Headings
Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Analgesics, Opioid, Child, Community Pharmacy Services, Criminals, Databases, Pharmaceutical, Female, Humans, Maine, Male, Middle Aged, Opioid-Related Disorders, Pharmacists, Prescription Drug Misuse, Surveys and Questionnaires, Young Adult
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Although opioids have substantial efficacy for acute pain management, escalation to opioid misuse and abuse is a persistent concern. This report assesses the current status of the opioid epidemic in Maine using three complementary data sets.
METHOD: A representative sample of pharmacists (N = 275) completed an online survey regarding the extent that opioids affected their practice. A county-level analysis of opioid prescriptions (N = 1.22 million) reported to the Maine Prescription Monitoring Program (M-PMP) in 2014 and the agents implicated in arrests as reported to the Maine Diversion Alert Program (DAP, N = 2,700) in 2014/15 also was completed.
RESULTS: A significantly greater number of pharmacists agreed that opioid misuse (85.9%), rather than diversion (76.8%) or access (54.2%), was a concern. Only half (56.2%) reported use of the M-PMP. Opioids were dispensed to 22.4% of residents (37.7% of women in their 80s). This was enough to supply everyone in Maine with a 16.1-day supply. Buprenorphine accounted for almost half of opioid prescriptions to young adults (46.3% women, 49.3% men). Arrests increased by 13.3% from 2014 to 2015, and the proportion of arrests that involved prescription opioids decreased while those involving stimulants and heroin were elevated.
CONCLUSIONS: Pharmacists are very aware of the potential for opioid misuse, but many do not consistently use the M-PMP. There continues to be substantial legitimate use, as well as criminal activity, involving oxycodone and other prescription opioids. Continued vigilance and use of tools like the PMP and DAP are necessary to minimize nonmedical use of opioids in Maine.
ISSN
1938-4114
First Page
556
Last Page
565
Recommended Citation
Piper, Brian J; Desrosiers, Clare E; Lipovsky, John W; Rodney, Matthew A; Baker, Robert P; McCall, Kenneth L; Nichols, Stephanie D.; and Martin, Sarah L, "Use and misuse of opioids in Maine: results from pharmacists, the prescription monitoring, and the diversion alert programs." (2016). Maine Medical Center. 288.
https://knowledgeconnection.mainehealth.org/mmc/288
