Patterns of abuse among unintentional pharmaceutical overdose fatalities
Abstract
CONTEXT: Use and abuse of prescription narcotic analgesics have increased dramatically in the United States since 1990. The effect of this pharmacoepidemic has been most pronounced in rural states, including West Virginia, which experienced the nation's largest increase in drug overdose mortality rates during 1999-2004. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the risk characteristics of persons dying of unintentional pharmaceutical overdose in West Virginia, the types of drugs involved, and the role of drug abuse in the deaths. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Population-based, observational study using data from medical examiner, prescription drug monitoring program, and opiate treatment program records. The study population was all state residents who died of unintentional pharmaceutical overdoses in West Virginia in 2006. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Rates and rate ratios for selected demographic variables. Prevalence of specific drugs among decedents and proportion that had been prescribed to decedents. Associations between demographics and substance abuse indicators and evidence of pharmaceutical diversion, defined as a death involving a prescription drug without a documented prescription and having received prescriptions for controlled substances from 5 or more clinicians during the year prior to death (ie, doctor shopping). RESULTS: Of 295 decedents, 198 (67.1%) were men and 271 (91.9%) were aged 18 through 54 years. Pharmaceutical diversion was associated with 186 (63.1%) deaths, while 63 (21.4%) were accompanied by evidence of doctor shopping. Prevalence of diversion was greatest among decedents aged 18 through 24 years and decreased across each successive age group. Having prescriptions for a controlled substance from 5 or more clinicians in the year prior to death was more common among women (30 [30.9%]) and decedents aged 35 through 44 years (23 [30.7%]) compared with men (33 [16.7%]) and other age groups (40 [18.2%]). Substance abuse indicators were identified in 279 decedents (94.6%), with nonmedical routes of exposure and illicit contributory drugs particularly prevalent among drug diverters. Multiple contributory substances were implicated in 234 deaths (79.3%). Opioid analgesics were taken by 275 decedents (93.2%), of whom only 122 (44.4%) had ever been prescribed these drugs. CONCLUSION: The majority of overdose deaths in West Virginia in 2006 were associated with nonmedical use and diversion of pharmaceuticals, primarily opioid analgesics.
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Risks associated with pharmaceutical opioid related overdose included taking high daily doses of opioids and seeking care from multiple healthcare providers to obtain many prescriptions.
“Risks associated with pharmaceutical opioid related overdose included taking high daily doses of opioids and seeking care from multiple healthcare providers to obtain many prescriptions (Paulozzi et al., 2012; Hall et al., 2008).”
From National trends in pharmaceutical opioid related overdose deaths compared to other substance related overdose deaths: 1999-2009. (2013) · cites this paper as Hall et al., 2008
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- Authors
- Hall, A. J.
- Affiliations
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US)
- Corresponding author
- Hall, Aron J.
- ORCID
- Hall, Aron J.
- Venue
- JAMA
- Publisher
- American Medical Association (AMA)
- Published
- 2008-12-10
- Volume
- 300
- Issue
- 22
- Pages
- 2613
- ISSN
- 0002-9955 (ISSN-L)
- 0098-7484
- OpenAlex
- W2104258796
- Cited by
- 815
- References
- 10
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 14 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 14 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 42 · 2020: 37 · 2019: 56 · 2018: 58 · 2017: 48 · 2016: 53 · 2015: 64 · 2014: 67 · 2013: 97 · 2012: 70
- FWCI
- 53.41
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- JAMA (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Opioid Use Disorder Treatment
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Emergency Medicine › Poisoning and overdose treatments
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
- Keywords
- prescription drug misuse, doctor shopping, opioid analgesics, prescription drug monitoring programs, drug overdose deaths, substance abuse, polydrug use, controlled substances
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Analgesics, Opioid, Drug and Narcotic Control, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Opioid-Related Disorders, Narcotics, Drug Prescriptions, Risk, Socioeconomic Factors, West Virginia, Prescription Drugs, Young Adult, Drug Overdose
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