@article{ref1,
title="Relative preferences in the abuse of immediate-release versus extended-release opioids in a sample of treatment-seeking opioid abusers",
journal="Pharmacoepidemiology and drug safety",
year="2016",
author="Cicero, Theodore J. and Ellis, Matthew S. and Kasper, Zachary A.",
volume="26",
number="1",
pages="56-62",
abstract="PURPOSE: Although differences in the pharmacological properties of immediate-release (IR) and extended-release (ER) opioid formulations have been reported, there are few studies comparing the real world abuse and relative preferences for these formulations. <br><br>METHODS: To examine drug preferences, we used a structured survey of 8304 individuals entering treatment (2011-2014) for opioid use disorder followed by a more focused online survey (2014-2015) with a subset of these patients (N = 301). <br><br>RESULTS: Our results demonstrated that both ER and IR opioids were frequently abused by those with an opioid use disorder in terms of lifetime (91.0% vs. 98.7%, respectively) or past month (46.1% vs. 67.4%, respectively) abuse, but given the choice, only 4% of the sample selected ER compounds as their preferred formulation. The remainder had no preference (29.9%) or a distinct preference for IR formulations (66.1%), regardless of route of administration-oral or non-oral (smoking/snorting or injecting). This preference for IR formulations seems to be related to: (i) the perceived immediacy and quality of the high (73.0%) from IR products; and (ii) they were easier to use, particularly when manipulated for non-oral abuse, than ER products (31.2%). <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Based on these results, while most abusers have experience with both formulations, there is a greater preference for IR formulations, compared to ER, regardless of route of administration. As a result, it may not be unreasonable to suggest that supply-side initiatives to restrict the diversion and abuse of prescription opioids may be just as important for both IR and ER opioids. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.<br><br>Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1053-8569",
doi="10.1002/pds.4078",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/pds.4078"
}