TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2007//
TI  - Quantifying morbidity associated with the abuse and misuse of opioid analgesics: a comparison of two approaches
JO  - Clinical toxicology (Philadelphia, Pa.)
A1  - Smith, M. Y.
A1  - Schneider, M. F.
A1  - Wentz, Alicia
A1  - Hughes, Ally
A1  - Haddox, J. David
A1  - Dart, Richard C.
SP  - 23
EP  - 30
VL  - 45
IS  - 1
N2  - 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.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 1556-3650
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/
ID  - ref1
ER  -