title: Associations between public health indicators and injecting prescription opioids by prescription opioid abusers in substance abuse treatment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine what, if any, public health and societal impacts are associated specifically with injection of prescription opioids.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional observational study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five hundred forty treatment facilities in 35 states across the United States performing Addiction Severity Index-Multimedia Version (ASI-MV) assessments.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adult patients (29,459) who reported past 30-day abuse of any prescription opioid on the ASI-MV assessment between January 2007 and January 2011.
  
  
  METHODS
  The public health indicators selected for this study were liver disease, HIV/AIDS status, recent visit to an emergency room, treatment for pain, treatment for overdosing, homelessness, residence with alcohol/substance abuser, and unemployment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prescription opioid injection was significantly associated with health problems, psychosocial problems, and utilization of medical services.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates an approach to measure the potential impact of injecting prescription opioids on public health indicators. Findings indicate a positive association between injection of prescription opioids and public health indicators suggesting a need for prescription opioid formulations that may inhibit injection of these medications.
authors.affiliation: Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA.
authors.forename: Ryan A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Black
authors.forename: Kimberlee J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Trudeau
authors.forename: Theresa A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Cassidy
authors.forename: Simon H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Budman
authors.forename: Stephen F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Butler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D062787:Drug Overdose / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D055030:Drug Users; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D016014:Linear Models; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D059408:Pain Management / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055553:Prescription Drugs; D011634:Public Health; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014478:Unemployment; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D055553:Prescription Drugs