title: Abuse of Gabapentin is Associated with Opioid Addiction.
abstract: The objective of this study was to evaluate the extent of gabapentin misuse in a dually diagnosed correctional population, and to evaluate if this abuse is specific to the presence of an opioid use disorder (OUD). Two-hundred and fifty former inmates, living in a correctional community center, who were referred for a psychiatric evaluation, were asked, through a brief written questionnaire, whether or not they used the following drugs for non-medical use in the past: opiates, gabapentin, buproprion, quetiapine, and fluoxetine. The average age of this population was 37.2 ± 12.1 years (n = 250). Sixty-four percent were male, 72 % were white, 27 % were black, and 1 % was Hispanic. All patients had substance use disorders, the large majority (72 %) to more than one substance. Fifty-eight percent had an opioid use disorder, again mostly in combination with other drugs and/or alcohol. Depressive disorders and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder were the most common psychiatric conditions. Sixty-two percent of patients reported prescription drug misuse of any kind. As expected, a high percent (55 %) reported opiate misuse. No patient reported fluoxetine misuse. Sixteen percent reported having misused gabapentin in the past. Of patients with an opioid use disorder (OUD: n = 145), 26 % endorsed gabapentin abuse while only 4 % of patients without an OUD (n = 105) endorsed the non-medical use of gabapentin. This difference was highly statistically significant (Chi square χ2= 21.6, p < 0.0001). A growing concern about gabapentin misuse was supported in this study: 26 percent of opiate addicted patients reported illegally obtaining, overusing, or malingering problems to obtain gabapentin. This study highlights the fact that gabapentin abuse appears specific to an opioid addicted population.
authors.affiliation: Renewal Treatment Inc., 700 Fifth Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, 15219, USA. lbastiaens@renewalinc.com.
authors.forename: Leo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bastiaens
authors.affiliation: Renewal Treatment Inc., 700 Fifth Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, 15219, USA.
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Galus
authors.affiliation: Renewal Treatment Inc., 700 Fifth Ave, Pittsburgh, PA, 15219, USA.
authors.forename: Cherise
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mazur
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000588:Amines; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D057237:Criminals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology*; D017831:Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry); D005260:Female; D000077206:Gabapentin; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D063487:Prescription Drug Misuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid
chemical_list: D000588:Amines; D003509:Cyclohexanecarboxylic Acids; D005680:gamma-Aminobutyric Acid; D000077206:Gabapentin
keywords: Correctional population; Gabapentin abuse; Opioid addiction