Survey of noncontrolled medication misuse patterns

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Clinical Psychology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Noncontrolled prescription medication (NCPM) misuse is an underrecognized public health concern.
• While the misuse potential of controlled substances is well-documented, NCPM misuse warrants further investigation.
• Understanding prescriber perceptions and patient patterns of NCPM misuse is crucial for clinical management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify prescriber perceptions regarding the misuse of noncontrolled prescription medications (NCPM).
• To evaluate patient-reported patterns of NCPM misuse.
• To assess the clinical significance and prevalence of NCPM misuse in a psychiatric patient population.

Main Methods:

• Anonymous surveys were administered to adult patients admitted to psychiatry services.
• Anonymous surveys were administered to prescribers in psychiatry and general medicine services.
• Data analysis focused on identifying rates and patterns of NCPM misuse and prescriber awareness.

Main Results:

• 38.4% of patients reported misusing NCPMs.
• Trazodone (35%) and quetiapine (30%) were the most frequently misused NCPMs.
• Patients misusing NCPMs reported higher rates of opioid and cannabis use disorders.

Conclusions:

• Noncontrolled prescription medication (NCPM) misuse is prevalent in psychiatric patient populations.
• Trazodone and quetiapine are frequently misused, necessitating increased clinical attention.
• Provider education and further research are recommended to address NCPM misuse effectively.