National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
Drug Alcohol Rev. 2014 Jan;33(1):27-32. doi: 10.1111/dar.12084. Epub 2013 Nov 20.
There has been an increase in prescription of opioids for chronic non-cancer pain, and concern exists over possible diversion of prescription opioids to the illicit marketplace. Recent media coverage suggests that elderly patients sell their prescribed opioids for additional income. This study investigated the extent to which an Australian community sample of chronic pain patients prescribed opioids reported supplying their prescribed opioids to others.
Participants living with chronic non-cancer pain and prescribed opioids for their pain (n=952) were recruited across Australia via advertisements at pharmacies. A telephone interview included questions about their pain condition and opioid medication.
Participants had been living with pain for a mean of 14.2 years; most common conditions included chronic back/neck problems and arthritis/rheumatism. Around half (43%) were currently prescribed one opioid, and 55% had been prescribed 2-5 opioids; the most common was oxycodone. Forty-two participants (4%) reported ever supplying prescribed opioids to another person; one participant reported receiving payment. Participants who supplied opioids to others were younger (odds ratio 0.97, 95% confidence interval 0.95-0.99) and engaged in a greater number of aberrant behaviours relating to their opioid medication (odds ratio 1.77, 95% confidence interval 1.45-2.17), including tampering with doses, taking opioids by alternative routes, seeing doctors to obtain extra opioids and refilling prescriptions early.
Few people with chronic non-cancer pain divert their opioids to others. Media reports of elderly patients selling their opioids to supplement their income may be reflective of exceptional cases. Future studies may investigate the extent to which other patient groups divert prescription opioids to the illicit marketplace.
慢性非癌症疼痛的阿片类药物处方有所增加，人们对处方阿片类药物可能流向非法市场表示担忧。最近的媒体报道表明，老年患者出售他们开的阿片类药物以获得额外收入。本研究调查了澳大利亚社区慢性疼痛患者样本中，有多少患者报告将开的阿片类药物提供给他人。
通过在澳大利亚各地的药店发布广告，招募了患有慢性非癌症疼痛且正在服用阿片类药物治疗疼痛的患者（n=952）。电话访谈包括有关他们的疼痛状况和阿片类药物治疗的问题。
参与者患有疼痛已经平均 14.2 年；最常见的疾病包括慢性背部/颈部问题和关节炎/风湿病。大约一半（43%）目前正在服用一种阿片类药物，55%曾被开过 2-5 种阿片类药物；最常见的是羟考酮。42 名参与者（4%）报告曾将开的阿片类药物提供给他人；一名参与者报告收到过付款。向他人提供阿片类药物的参与者年龄较小（优势比 0.97，95%置信区间 0.95-0.99），并且与他们的阿片类药物治疗相关的异常行为更多（优势比 1.77，95%置信区间 1.45-2.17），包括篡改剂量、通过其他途径服用阿片类药物、看医生获取额外的阿片类药物和提前开处方。
患有慢性非癌症疼痛的人很少将阿片类药物转移给他人。媒体报道称老年患者出售他们的阿片类药物以补充收入可能反映了特殊情况。未来的研究可能会调查其他患者群体将处方阿片类药物转移到非法市场的程度。
