@article{ref1,
title="Traumatic injuries and persistent opioid use in the USA: findings from a nationally representative survey",
journal="Injury prevention",
year="2017",
author="Alghnam, Suliman and Castillo, Renan",
volume="23",
number="2",
pages="87-92",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Although opioid abuse is a rising epidemic in the USA, there are no studies to date on the incidence of persistent opioid use following injuries. Therefore, the aims of this study are: (1) to examine the incidence of persistent opioid use among a nationally representative sample of injured and non-injured populations; (2) to evaluate whether an injury is an independent predictor of persistent opioid use. <br><br>METHOD: Data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey were pooled (years 2009-2012). Adults were followed for about 2 years, during which they were surveyed about injury status and opioid use every 4-5 months. To determine whether injuries are associated with persistent opioid use, weighted multiple logistic regressions were constructed. <br><br>RESULTS: While 2.3 million injured individuals received any opioid during the follow-up, 371 170 (15.6%) individuals became persistent opioid users (defined as opioid use across multiple time points). In a multiple logistic regression analysis adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics and self-reported health, those who sustained injuries were 1.4 times (95% CI 1.1 to 1.9) more likely to report persistent opioid use than those without injuries. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: We found injuries to be significantly associated with persistent opioid use in a nationally representative sample. Further investment in injury prevention may facilitate reduction of persistent opioid use and, thus, improve population health and reduce health expenditures.<br><br>Published by the BMJ Publishing Group Limited. For permission to use (where not already granted under a licence) please go to http://www.bmj.com/company/products-services/rights-and-licensing/<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1353-8047",
doi="10.1136/injuryprev-2016-042059",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/injuryprev-2016-042059"
}