The epidemiologic association between opioid prescribing, non-medical use, and emergency department visits.
BACKGROUND
Since the 1990s prescriptions for and the non-medical use of opioids have increased. This study examines associations between opioid prescribing, non-medical use, and emergency department (ED) visits.


METHODS
Data were abstracted from four federally sponsored, nationally representative, annual surveys (National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, National Survey on Drug Use and Health, and Drug Abuse Warning Network).


RESULTS
For hydrocodone and oxycodone, associations between prescribing and non-medical use, and prescribing and ED visits were statistically significant (p-values < 0.04) and strongly associated (correlation coefficient range 0.73 to 0.87). Male gender, White race, and age > or = 35 were all statistically significant (p-values < 0.0001) predictors of receiving a hydrocodone or oxycodone-containing prescription.


CONCLUSIONS
The increased number of prescriptions written for hydrocodone and oxycodone between 1995 and 2004 was associated with similar increases in non-medical use and the number of ED visits during this time period.
University at Buffalo, School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. Department of Family Medicine, Family Medicine Research Institute, 462 Grider Street, Room CC-191, Buffalo, NY 14215, USA. amw25@buffalo.edu
Angela M
AM
Wisniewski
Christopher H
CH
Purdy
Richard D
RD
Blondell
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000506:poisoning* / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D062787:Drug Overdose / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D006853:Hydrocodone / Q000506:poisoning / Q000600:supply & distribution; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009020:Morphine / Q000506:poisoning / Q000600:supply & distribution; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010098:Oxycodone / Q000506:poisoning / Q000600:supply & distribution; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014481:United States; D014600:Utilization Review / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D006853:Hydrocodone; D009020:Morphine; D010098:Oxycodone