MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2010 Feb 19;59(6):153-7.
Fatal and nonfatal overdoses from prescription pain medications have increased in recent years in Utah and throughout the nation. In 2008, the Utah Department of Health added 12 questions to the state's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) survey to better understand how state residents obtain and use prescription pain medication. Findings from the survey indicated that an estimated 20.8% of Utah adults aged >or=18 years had been prescribed an opioid pain medication during the preceding 12 months. Of those prescribed an opioid pain medication, 3.2% reported using their medication more frequently or in higher doses than had been directed by their doctor; 72.0% reported having leftover medication, and 71.0% of those with leftover medication reported that they had kept the medication. Approximately 1.8% of all adults reported using prescription opioids that had not been prescribed to them. In 2009, the Utah Department of Health published a set of guidelines to reduce morbidity, mortality, and disability associated with misuse or abuse of prescription drugs, especially narcotics. The guidelines include recommendations that providers 1) counsel patients to dispose of unused medication properly once the pain has resolved and 2) prescribe no more than the number of doses needed based on the usual duration of pain severe enough to require opioids for that condition.
近年来，犹他州和全美因处方止痛药而导致的致命和非致命过量用药有所增加。2008 年，犹他州卫生署在该州的行为风险因素监测系统（BRFSS）调查中增加了 12 个问题，以更好地了解该州居民如何获取和使用处方止痛药。调查结果表明，估计有 20.8%的≥18 岁犹他州成年人在过去 12 个月内被开处过阿片类止痛药。在被开处阿片类止痛药的人群中，3.2%的人报告称他们比医生的指示更频繁或更高剂量地使用他们的药物；72.0%的人报告有剩余药物，而在有剩余药物的人群中，有 71.0%的人表示他们保留了药物。大约 1.8%的成年人报告称使用了未经处方的处方类阿片类药物。2009 年，犹他州卫生署发布了一套减少与误用或滥用处方药物（特别是麻醉品）相关的发病率、死亡率和残疾的指南。这些指南包括建议提供者 1）在疼痛缓解后，指导患者妥善处理未使用的药物，以及 2）根据该病症需要使用阿片类药物的通常持续时间，开出不超过所需剂量的药物。
