Association of Overall Opioid Prescriptions on Adolescent Opioid Abuse.
BACKGROUND
Opioid abuse is a public health epidemic in the United States. Much literature has focused on the prescribing practices of physicians and opioid misuse by adults. However, there are limited data on the effect of opioid prescriptions on adolescent recreational ingestion of these medications.


OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to assess for a relationship between opioid prescribing practices across the United States and adolescent opioid ingestion calls to poison centers.


METHODS
This was an observational study using the National Poison Data System. The study population consisted of poison center calls regarding adolescents between 2005 and 2010 in the database with a coding of "intentional abuse" and an opioid ingestion. National opioid prescription estimates were generated using nationally representative outpatient and inpatient databases.


RESULTS
There were 4186 adolescent opioid ingestion calls during the study period. There was a general increase between 2005 and 2010 in both teen opioid abuse calls (617 in 2005 to 782 in 2010) and national opioid prescriptions (approximately 78 million in 2005 to 108 million in 2010). For each opioid prescription increase per 100 persons per year, the annual teen opioid abuse calls increased by 1.8% (95% confidence interval 0.9-2.8%), equivalent to an absolute increase of about 0.04 to 0.05 calls per 100,000 teens annually.


CONCLUSIONS
There appears to be an association between opioid prescriptions nationally and poison center calls for adolescent opioid ingestions. This is particularly important in this patient population because of impulsivity and early exposure to substance abuse. Providers should be aware of the nonmedical use of opioids by adolescents and educate patients accordingly.
Department of Emergency Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon.
David C
DC
Sheridan
Department of Emergency Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon; School of Public Health, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon.
Amber
A
Laurie
Department of Emergency Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon; Oregon Poison Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon.
Robert G
RG
Hendrickson
Department of Emergency Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon; School of Public Health, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon.
Rongwei
R
Fu
Department of Emergency Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon.
Bory
B
Kea
Department of Emergency Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon; Oregon Poison Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon.
B Zane
BZ
Horowitz
D000293:Adolescent; D000700:Analgesics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011039:Poison Control Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016012:Poisson Distribution; D063487:Prescription Drug Misuse / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult
D000700:Analgesics; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid
adolescent; child; ingestion; medicine; opioid pain