Non-medical prescription opioid use and in-hospital illicit drug use among people who use drugs

Original research
by
Parmar, Gurjit S. et al

Release Date

2021

Geography

Canada

Language of Resource

English

Full Text Available

No

Open Access / OK to Reproduce

Yes

Peer Reviewed

Yes

Objective

Illicit drug use while admitted to hospital is common amongst people who use drugs. Furthermore, non-medical prescription opioid use (NMPOU) is increasingly being used by this population. This study was undertaken to investigate the relationship between NMPOU and having ever reported using illicit drugs in the hospital.

Findings/Key points

More persistent non-medical prescription opioid use was positively associated with having reported in-hospital illicit drug use. Our findings point to the need for better identification and management of opioid use disorder in acute care settings to reduce in-hospital illicit drug use, and to offer evidence-based medical treatments to achieve the most optimal outcomes for patients. Volume40, Issue6 September 2021 Pages 959-963 Related Information Recommended Epidemiology and Demography of Illicit Drug Use and Drug Use Disorders Among Adults Aged 50 and Older Shawna L. Carroll Chapman, Li-Tzy Wu Substance Use and Older People, [1] Illicit drug use and dependence in a New Zealand birth cohort Joseph M. Boden, David M. Fergusson, L. John Horwood Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry Prevalence of illicit drug use among youth: results from the Australian School Students' Alcohol and Drugs Survey Michael Lynskey, Victoria White, David Hill, Tessa Letcher, Wayne Hall Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health Awareness of fentanyl exposure and the associated overdose risks among people who inject drugs in a Canadian setting Kanna Hayashi, Evan Wood, Huiru Dong, Jane A. Buxton, Nadia Fairbairn, Kora DeBeck, M.-J. Milloy, Thomas Kerr Drug and Alcohol Review The Canadian Alcohol Policy Evaluation project: Findings from a review of provincial and territorial alcohol policies Kate Vallance, Tim Stockwell, Ashley Wettlaufer, Clifton Chow, Norman Giesbrecht, Nicole April, Mark Asbridge, Russell Callaghan, Samantha Cukier, Geoff Hynes, Robert Mann, Robert Solomon, Gerald Thomas, Kara Thompson Drug and Alcohol Review more persistent NMPOU was positively associated with having reported in-hospital illicit drug use. Our findings point to the need for better identification and management of opioid use disorder in acute care settings to reduce in-hospital illicit drug use, and to offer evidence-based medical treatments to achieve the most optimal outcomes for patients. Volume40, Issue6 September 2021 Pages 959-963 Related Information Recommended Epidemiology and Demography of Illicit Drug Use and Drug Use Disorders Among Adults Aged 50 and Older Shawna L. Carroll Chapman, Li-Tzy Wu Substance Use and Older People, [1] Illicit drug use and dependence in a New Zealand birth cohort Joseph M. Boden, David M. Fergusson, L. John Horwood Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry Prevalence of illicit drug use among youth: results from the Australian School Students' Alcohol and Drugs Survey Michael Lynskey, Victoria White, David Hill, Tessa Letcher, Wayne Hall Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health Awareness of fentanyl exposure and the associated overdose risks among people who inject drugs in a Canadian setting Kanna Hayashi, Evan Wood, Huiru Dong, Jane A. Buxton, Nadia Fairbairn, Kora DeBeck, M.-J. Milloy, Thomas Kerr Drug and Alcohol Review The Canadian Alcohol Policy Evaluation project: Findings from a review of provincial and territorial alcohol policies Kate Vallance, Tim Stockwell, Ashley Wettlaufer, Clifton Chow, Norman Giesbrecht, Nicole April, Mark Asbridge, Russell Callaghan, Samantha Cukier, Geoff Hynes, Robert Mann, Robert Solomon, Gerald Thomas, Kara Thompson Drug and Alcohol Review more persistent non-medical prescription opioid use was positively associated with having reported in-hospital illicit drug use. Our findings point to the need for better identification and management of opioid use disorder in acute care settings to reduce in-hospital illicit drug use, and to offer evidence-based medical treatments to achieve the most optimal outcomes for patients.

Design/methods

Cross-sectional design based on data from 3 cohort studies

Keywords

Evidence base
Harm reduction
Safer supply
About prescribers
Illegal drugs
Hospitals