Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 15, 2025

Author Spotlight: An Efficient Methodology to Confidently Differentiate and Characterize Fentanyl Analogs
Published on: November 8, 2024
Using prescribing and toxicology data to determine non-medical prescription drug overdose
Philip Huynh1, Grant Victor1, Brad Ray1
1Center for Behavioral Health and Justice at Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States.
Background:
Overdose deaths have increased dramatically in the United States and are often attributed to prescription opioids. This study presents a framework for "overdose typologies", including non-medical prescription drug use, to more accurately describe drug use patterns.
Methods:
This study examined linked prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) and toxicology data (2016-2018) from accidental overdose deaths from a large metropolitan coroner's office in the Midwest (Indianapolis, Indiana).
Results:
In total, 1,112 accidental overdose deaths occurred and over two-thirds (68.0%; n = 756) were coded as an illicit drug user with no prescription opioid present in the toxicology. The most infrequent categories were prescription opioid users 5.5% (n = 61).
Conclusion:
Linked PDMP and toxicology reports are useful in identifying drug use patterns that contribute to mortality.
More Related Videos
10:17High-throughput and Comprehensive Drug Surveillance Using Multisegment Injection-Capillary Electrophoresis-Mass Spectrometry
Published on: April 23, 2019
16:02Demonstration of the Sequence Alignment to Predict Across Species Susceptibility Tool for Rapid Assessment of Protein Conservation
Published on: February 10, 2023
Related Concept Videos
Prescription, Nonprescription and Orphan Drugs
The misuse and addiction to prescription drugs is a growing problem that can affect people of all age groups, specifically teenagers. This can happen when prescription medications are used in ways not intended by the prescriber, such as taking someone else's prescription or using medication for...
Drug Classes and Categories
Drug Regulation
Pharmacovigilance
This process, termed pharmacovigilance, aims to detect, evaluate, and minimize harmful effects related to medication use. The data collection for pharmacovigilance depends on spontaneous reporting systems, where healthcare professionals or patients voluntarily report suspected ADRs.
In some cases, there...
Drug Abuse and Addiction: Pharmacological Phenomena
Dosage Regimens: Designs and Approaches