Citation

Smith MY, Schneider MF, Wentz A, Hughes A, Haddox JD, Dart RC. Clin. Toxicol. (Phila) 2007; 45(1): 23-30.

Affiliation

One Stamford Forum, Stamford, Connecticut 06901-3431, USA. meredith.smith@pharma.com

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

17357378

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Due to the rising nonmedical use of opioid analgesics, methods are needed to quantify the associated health-related consequences. METHODS: Using opioid analgesic intentional exposure reports from poison control centers from January 2003-June 2004, we calculated quarterly rates for 7 opioids at the 3-digit ZIP code level using population- and patient-based denominators. RESULTS: Hydrocodone was the most widely prescribed opioid (maximum: 5,321,390 patients per quarter), with the largest intentional exposure caseload (range: 498-1,290), and the highest aggregate population-based rate (maximum of 13.61 cases per 1,000,000 individuals). Methadone had the highest aggregate patient-based rate (maximum 2.03 cases per 1,000 patients). CONCLUSION: Population- and patient-based rates are complementary tools that address different public health questions. Population-based rates describe the health-related burden of nonmedical opioid analgesic use on the community as a whole, while patient-based rates show this burden ("risk") in relation to the level of corresponding medicinal use ("benefit") within a given area.

Language: en