Alexia Anagnostopoulos1, Alison G Abraham2, Becky L Genberg3, Gregory D Kirk4, Shruti H Mehta5. 1. Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N Wolfe Street, Baltimore 21205, MD, USA. Electronic address: alexia.anagnostopoulos@usz.ch. 2. Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 N Wolfe Street, Baltimore 21287, MD, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N Wolfe Street, Baltimore 21205, MD, USA. Electronic address: alison.abraham@jhu.edu. 3. Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N Wolfe Street, Baltimore 21205, MD, USA. Electronic address: bgenberg@jhu.edu. 4. Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N Wolfe Street, Baltimore 21205, MD, USA; Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 600 N Wolfe Street, Baltimore 21287, MD, USA. Electronic address: gdk@jhu.edu. 5. Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 615 N Wolfe Street, Baltimore 21205, MD, USA. Electronic address: smehta@jhu.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Prescription drug misuse and its consequences (e.g., overdose) are a major public health concern. While national focus has been on opioids, misuse of sedatives/tranquilizers also occurs. Here we describe the use, correlates, and sources of prescription drugs in a community-based cohort of people who inject drugs (PWID). METHODS: We included participants of the AIDS Linked to the IntraVenous Experience (ALIVE) study in follow-up in 2014. We defined prescription drug use as use of opioids or sedatives/tranquilizers considering both medical "prescribed by a doctor" and non-medical sources "obtained from the street/friend/relative." Correlates were evaluated separately for opioids and sedatives/tranquilizers using logistic regression and included socioeconomic factors, health conditions, substance use, and health care access. RESULTS: 823 predominantly African-American (90.6%) and male (66.3%) ALIVE participants with a median age of 55 were included. Prevalence of prescription opioid and sedative/tranquilizer use was 25.3% and 16.3% respectively. While the majority (70%) obtained prescription drugs exclusively through medical sources, the 30% who reported any non-medical source were also more likely to use other substances by injection and non-injection routes. PWID reporting prescription drug use (from medical and non-medical sources) were significantly more likely to report other substance use, mental health disorder, and recent contact with health care providers or detoxification facilities. CONCLUSIONS: Prescription drug use was highly prevalent among PWID. While it is difficult to distinguish medically indicated from non-medical use, high levels of prescription drug use in conjunction with other drugs and alcohol heightens the risk for drug overdose and other adverse consequences.
BACKGROUND: Prescription drug misuse and its consequences (e.g., overdose) are a major public health concern. While national focus has been on opioids, misuse of sedatives/tranquilizers also occurs. Here we describe the use, correlates, and sources of prescription drugs in a community-based cohort of people who inject drugs (PWID). METHODS: We included participants of the AIDS Linked to the IntraVenous Experience (ALIVE) study in follow-up in 2014. We defined prescription drug use as use of opioids or sedatives/tranquilizers considering both medical "prescribed by a doctor" and non-medical sources "obtained from the street/friend/relative." Correlates were evaluated separately for opioids and sedatives/tranquilizers using logistic regression and included socioeconomic factors, health conditions, substance use, and health care access. RESULTS: 823 predominantly African-American (90.6%) and male (66.3%) ALIVE participants with a median age of 55 were included. Prevalence of prescription opioid and sedative/tranquilizer use was 25.3% and 16.3% respectively. While the majority (70%) obtained prescription drugs exclusively through medical sources, the 30% who reported any non-medical source were also more likely to use other substances by injection and non-injection routes. PWID reporting prescription drug use (from medical and non-medical sources) were significantly more likely to report other substance use, mental health disorder, and recent contact with health care providers or detoxification facilities. CONCLUSIONS: Prescription drug use was highly prevalent among PWID. While it is difficult to distinguish medically indicated from non-medical use, high levels of prescription drug use in conjunction with other drugs and alcohol heightens the risk for drug overdose and other adverse consequences.
Authors: Thomas Kerr; Nadia Fairbairn; Mark Tyndall; David Marsh; Kathy Li; Julio Montaner; Evan Wood Journal: Drug Alcohol Depend Date: 2006-09-07 Impact factor: 4.492
Authors: E E Schoenbaum; D Hartel; P A Selwyn; R S Klein; K Davenny; M Rogers; C Feiner; G Friedland Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 1989-09-28 Impact factor: 91.245
Authors: Rachel E Gicquelais; Becky L Genberg; Jacquie Astemborski; David D Celentano; Gregory D Kirk; Shruti H Mehta Journal: AIDS Educ Prev Date: 2019-08