Brief article
Patterns of prescription opioid abuse and comorbidity in an aging treatment population

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsat.2011.07.003Get rights and content

Abstract

Very little is known about the impact of age and gender on drug abuse treatment needs. To examine this, we recruited 2,573 opioid-dependent patients, aged from 18 to 75 years, entering treatment across the country from 2008 to 2010 to complete a self-administered survey examining drug use histories and the extent of comorbid psychiatric and physical disorders. Moderate to very severe pain and psychiatric disorders, including polysubstance abuse, were present in a significant fraction of 18- to 24-year-olds, but their severity grew exponentially as a function of age: 75% of those older than 45 years had debilitating pain and psychiatric problems. Women had more pain than men and much worse psychiatric issues in all age groups. Our results indicate that a “one-size-fits-all” approach to prevention, intervention, and treatment of opioid abuse that ignores the shifting needs of opioid-abusing men and women as they age is destined to fail.

Keywords

Opioid abuse
Prescription drug abuse
Opioid treatment centers
Age-related changes in treatment needs
Age and gender influences on opioid treatment

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Author contribution: All of the authors had full access to all of the data in the study and assisted in the design of the study, collection of data, and preparation of this report. Dr. Theodore J. Cicero took the lead in the efforts and is ultimately responsible for the integrity of the data, accuracy of the data analysis, overall study results, and drafting the paper.

Conflict of interest: With the exception of Matthew Ellis, all of the authors serve as consultants to the nonprofit postmarketing surveillance system Researched Abuse, Diversion and Addiction-Related Surveillance (RADARS) System, which collects subscription fees from 11 pharmaceutical firms. None of the subscribers would appear to have any interest in the outcome of this study.

Sources of funding: Supported in part by National Institute on Drug Abuse Grants DA020791, DA 21330 (TJC), and DA21330 (SK) and an unrestricted research grant from Denver Health and Hospital Authority.

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