@article{ref1,
title="Costs and work loss burden of diagnosed opioid abuse among employees on workers compensation or short-term disability",
journal="Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine",
year="2016",
author="Johnston, Stephen S. and Alexander, Andrea H. and Masters, Elizabeth T. and Mardekian, Jack and Semel, David and Malangone-Monaco, Elisabetta and Riehle, Ellen and Wilson, Kathleen and Sadosky, Alesia",
volume="58",
number="11",
pages="1087-1097",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: To compare 12-month healthcare costs between employees with versus without diagnosed opioid abuse within 12 months after an injury-related workers' compensation (WC) or short-term disability (STD) claim. <br><br>METHODS: Retrospective study using 2003 to 2014 US insurance claims linked to administrative data on WC/STD claims. Multivariable models compared healthcare costs between employees with versus without diagnosed opioid abuse. <br><br>RESULTS: Study included 107,975 opioid-treated employees with an injury-related WC or STD claim. Mean number of opioid prescription fills and adjusted total healthcare costs were substantially greater in employees with diagnosed opioid abuse versus without (WC: 13.4 vs. 4.5, P < 0.001; $18,073 vs. $8470, P < 0.001; STD: 13.7 vs. 4.5, P < 0.001; $25,693 vs. $14,939, P < 0.001). <br><br>CONCLUSION: Opioids are commonly prescribed to employees with injury-related WC/STD claims. Employers may benefit from proactively addressing the issue of opioid abuse in these populations.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1076-2752",
doi="10.1097/JOM.0000000000000865",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/JOM.0000000000000865"
}