Drug Misuse in the Veterinary Setting: an Under-recognized Avenue

Area of Science:

• Veterinary medicine
• Public health
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Prescription drug misuse is a significant public health concern.
• Current regulations primarily focus on human healthcare providers, overlooking veterinary sources.
• Veterinarians prescribe controlled substances to millions of animal patients annually in the USA.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the overlooked role of veterinary practices in prescription drug misuse.
• To underscore the need for increased awareness and investigation into drug diversion from veterinary settings.
• To inform human healthcare providers about this potential source of diverted prescription drugs.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing evidence on drug misuse in veterinary settings.
• Analysis of reported drug diversion patterns.
• Examination of prescribing trends for controlled substances in veterinary medicine.

Main Results:

• Evidence indicates drug misuse occurs within the veterinary field, acknowledged by practitioners.
• Analgesics are commonly implicated in diversion, with a rising trend in veterinarian opioid prescribing.
• The extent of prescription misuse in veterinary settings is likely underestimated.

Conclusions:

• Veterinary drug diversion is a significant issue requiring further research and attention.
• Human healthcare providers should be aware of veterinary drug misuse as a potential channel for prescription drug access.
• Interdisciplinary collaboration is needed to address this public health challenge effectively.