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Published on: June 10, 2013
OxyContin use and misuse in three populations: substance abuse patients, pain patients, and criminal justice
Martha J Wunsch1, Karen L Cropsey, Eleanor D Campbell
1Addiction Medicine, Edward Via Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Blacksburg, VA, USA.
Objective:
This study was designed to describe and compare individuals in rural Appalachia prescribed, abusing or diverting OxyContin a region with high rates of prescription medication abuse and misuse.
Setting And Participants:
Fifty subjects treated for OxyContin abuse, 34 subjects prescribed OxyContin for pain and 50 subjects incarcerated due to OxyContin-related charges from rural Appalachia.
Interventions:
The Addiction Severity Index, DSM-IV Checklist, and an investigator developed questionnaire were administered to all three groups.
Results:
All three groups included individuals prescribed OxyContin for pain and demographic variables and psychiatric/medical histories failed to discriminate between the pain and substance abuse (SA) subjects. SA and criminal justice subjects were significantly more likely to have a current DSM-IV diagnosis ofpsychoactive abuse/dependence and more likely to be younger and unmarried.
Conclusion:
This study found that these groups are not distinct and in depth evaluations, including a detailed SA history, are needed to identify the pain patient at risk for abuse and/or diversion of prescribed opioids.
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