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Using prescribing and toxicology data to determine non-medical prescription drug overdose
Huynh, P., Victor, G., & Ray, B. (2020). Using prescribing and toxicology data to determine non-medical prescription drug overdose. Addictive Behaviors Reports, 12, Article 100289. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.abrep.2020.100289
BACKGROUND: Overdose deaths have increased dramatically in the United States and are often attributed to prescription opioids. This study presents a framework for "overdose typologies", including non-medical prescription drug use, to more accurately describe drug use patterns.
METHODS: This study examined linked prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) and toxicology data (2016-2018) from accidental overdose deaths from a large metropolitan coroner's office in the Midwest (Indianapolis, Indiana).
RESULTS: In total, 1,112 accidental overdose deaths occurred and over two-thirds (68.0%; n = 756) were coded as an illicit drug user with no prescription opioid present in the toxicology. The most infrequent categories were prescription opioid users 5.5% (n = 61).
CONCLUSION: Linked PDMP and toxicology reports are useful in identifying drug use patterns that contribute to mortality.
