title: Use and nonmedical use of prescription opioid analgesics in the general population of Canada and correlations with dispensing levels in 2009.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In Canada, harm from nonmedical prescription opioid analgesic (POA) use (NMPOU) has increased in recent years; however, there are limitations to the current estimates of NMPOU. The 2009 Canadian Alcohol and Drug Use Monitoring Survey presents an opportunity to produce more accurate estimates of NMPOU.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of POA use, NMPOU and use of pain relievers to 'get high', and to assess correlations of these indicators with age, sex and provincial levels of dispensed POAs in Canada in 2009.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data regarding POA use were obtained from the 2009 Canadian Alcohol and Drug Use Monitoring Survey (n=13,032). The amount of POAs dispensed in standardized daily doses was obtained from a representative sample of 2700 retail pharmacies across Canada. Associations among POA use, age, sex and the amount of POAs dispensed were evaluated using regression models. Differences in POA use across provinces were assessed using the Wald test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In Canada in 2009, the prevalence of POA use was 19.2% (95% CI 18.0% to 20.5%), NMPOU was 4.8% (95% CI 4.1% to 5.5%) and the use of pain relievers to get high was 0.4% (95% CI 0.1% to 0.8%). NMPOU was significantly associated with age. The use of pain relievers to get high varied significantly across provinces, while POA use and NMPOU did not show significant variations. The amount of POAs dispensed per province was not significantly correlated with any type of POA use.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings confirm high POA use and NMPOU across Canada. Research is required to identify determinants of NMPOU.
authors: Centre for Addition and Mental Halth, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. kevin.shield@utoronto.ca
authors: Kevin D
authors: KD
authors: Shield
authors: Wayne
authors: W
authors: Jones
authors: Jürgen
authors: J
authors: Rehm
authors: Benedikt
authors: B
authors: Fischer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D016903:Drug Monitoring / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology; D055553:Prescription Drugs / Q000009:adverse effects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D055553:Prescription Drugs
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