title: OPPIDUM surveillance program: 20 years of information on drug abuse in France.
abstract: It is important to assess drug abuse liability in 'real life' using different surveillance systems. Some are based on specific population surveys, such as individuals with drug abuse or dependence, or under opiate maintenance treatment, because this population is very familiar with drugs and is more likely to divert or abuse them. In France, an original surveillance system based on this specific population and called 'Observation of illegal drugs and misuse of psychotropic medications (OPPIDUM) survey' was set up in 1990 as the first of its kind. The aim of this article is to describe this precursor of French drug abuse surveillance using different examples, to demonstrate its ability to effectively give health authorities and physicians interesting data on drug abuse. OPPIDUM is an annual, cross-sectional survey that anonymously collects information on abuse and dependence observed in patients recruited in specialized care centers dedicated to drug dependence. From 1990 to 2010, a total of 50,734 patients were included with descriptions of 102,631 psychoactive substance consumptions. These data have outlined emergent behaviors such as the misuse of buprenorphine by intravenous or nasal administration. It has contributed to assess abuse liability of emergent drugs such as clonazepam or methylphenidate. This surveillance system was also able to detect the decrease of flunitrazepam abuse following implementation of regulatory measures. OPPIDUM's twenty years of experience clearly demonstrate that collection of valid and useful data on drug abuse is possible and can provide helpful information for physicians and health authorities.
authors.affiliation: Centre d'Evaluation et d'Information sur la Pharmacodépendance Paca Corse, Service de Pharmacologie Médicale et Clinique, Hôpital de la Timone, 13005, Marseille; Aix Marseille Université, Institut des Neurosciences Timone - UMR 7289 CNRS, 13005 Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Frauger
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Moracchini
authors.forename: Reynald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Le Boisselier
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Braunstein
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Thirion
authors.forename: Joëlle
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Micallef
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D011358:Product Surveillance, Postmarketing / Q000379:methods*; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*
chemical_list: D013287:Illicit Drugs; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs
keywords: pharmacoepidemiology; postmarketing surveillance system; prescription drug abuse; substance-related disorders