Background: Prescription drug abuse is a public health problem in the United States and the region of Appalachia, specifically. Primary care and addiction medicine—as possible points of access for prescription drugs with abuse potential and points of intervention for prescription drug abuse—are among the medical fields at its forefront. Little is known, however, about perceptions of prescription drug abuse across the two patient populations. Objectives: The objective of this qualitative analysis was to explore perceptions of the scale and context of prescription drug abuse among primary care and addiction medicine patients in Appalachia. Methods: As part of a mixed methods study, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 20 patients from primary care and addiction medicine in Central and South Central Appalachia from 2014 to 2015. The interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was used to identify themes. Results: Three themes were identified: (1) pervasiveness of prescription drug abuse, describing perceptions of its high prevalence and negative consequences; (2) routes and routine practices for prescription drug acquisition and distribution, describing perceptions of routes of access to prescription drugs and behaviors exhibited to acquire and distribute prescription drugs; and (3) rationales for prescription drug acquisition and distribution, describing perceptions of the two underlying reasons for these processes—tolerance/addiction and revenue source. Conclusions/Importance: Perceptions of prescription drug abuse among primary care and addiction medicine patients in Appalachia are multifaceted, especially regarding prescription drug acquisition and distribution. Clinical practice implications for mitigating prescription drug abuse are discussed.

Background: Provider–patient communication underpins many initiatives aimed at reducing the public health burden associated with prescription drug abuse in the United States. The purpose of this qualitative analysis was to examine the characteristics of provider–patient communication about prescription drug abuse from the perspective of prescribers. Methods:From 2014 to 2015, 10 semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of prescribers from multiple professions and medical fields in Central and South Central Appalachia. The interviews were conducted using a guide informed by Social Cognitive Theory and community theory research, audio-recorded, and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis, facilitated by NVivo 10 software, was used to generate themes.Results:Prescribers described 3 primary communication patterns with patients related to prescription drug abuse—informative, counteractive, and supportive. Prescribers also reported multiple factors—personal (e.g., education, experiences, and feelings of tension) and environmental (e.g., relationship with a patient, clinical resources, and policies on controlled prescription drugs)—that affect provider–patient communication and, by association, delivery of patient care related to prescription drug abuse.Conclusions:The findings suggest that provider–patient communication about prescription drug abuse is multidimensional and dynamic, characterized by multiple communication patterns and contributory factors. They have implications for (1) research aimed at advancing theoretical understanding of prescriber prescription drug abuse communication behaviors with patients and (2) interventions aimed at strengthening prescriber prescription drug abuse communication behaviors with patients.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-12-06T23:46:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2013 / Associação Fundo de Incentivo à Psicofarmacologia (AFIP) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Introdução: O uso nao prescrito de medicamentos psicotropicos entre jovens tem crescido mundialmente e se tornado objeto de preocupacao nos ultimos anos. Os tranquilizantes estao entre os medicamentos mais utilizados, com grande potencial para uso inadequado, abuso e dependencia, especialmente em populacoes mais vulneraveis como os adolescentes. Este estudo descreve o padrao de uso de tranquilizantes sem receita medica por estudantes brasileiros e identifica caracteristicas dos adolescentes e da exposicao a essas substancias que estao associadas ao consumo nao prescrito. Metodos: As analises foram realizadas a partir de uma amostra randomizada e estratificada de 47979 estudantes de 10 a 18 anos de nivel fundamental e medio da rede publica e privada de ensino nas 27 capitais brasileiras. Os dados foram obtidos por meio da aplicacao de um questionario de autopreenchimento sobre uso de tranquilizantes sem receita medica e demais substancias psicotropicas (alcool, tabaco, maconha, cocaina/crack, ecstasy, Benflogin®, anabolizantes, anfetaminas e opioides), variaveis sociodemograficas (idade, genero, classe socioeconomica, tipo de escola e regiao do pais), indicadores de acesso (ja ter recebido prescricao medica e uso de tranquilizantes por familiar ou amigo) e tambem percepcao de risco. Modelos de regressao logistica foram realizados para verificar associacao entre uso na vida nao prescrito de tranquilizantes e os fatores previamente mencionados. Resultados: O uso na vida de tranquilizantes sem receita medica foi relatado por 3,9% dos participantes, sendo o diazepam o medicamento mais consumido. O principal motivo de uso foi automedicacao e mais de 80% mencionou ter obtido o medicamento atraves da familia ou disponivel em ambiente familiar. O consumo foi duas vezes mais prevalente entre meninas e alunos provenientes de classes socioeconomicas mais favorecidas e escolas privadas. Houve associacao entre uso nao prescrito de tranquilizantes e uso na vida de alcool, de tabaco, de drogas ilicitas e de outros medicamentos sem receita medica. O uso sem prescricao medica de tranquilizantes pelos adolescentes tambem foi associado ao uso de tranquilizantes por algum parente ou amigo, ja ter recebido uma prescricao medica anterior de tranquilizantes e a uma baixa percepcao de risco de uso regular da substancia. A prescricao medica tambem esteve associada a uma baixa percepcao de risco do adolescente ao uso regular nao prescrito. Conclusao: O uso de tranquilizantes sem receita medica por adolescentes pode indicar o consumo de outras substancias, incluindo combinacoes de risco, como o uso concomitante com alcool. Ha influencia direta (oferta) e indireta (acesso e uso) da familia, e a prescricao medica tem um papel reforcador sobre o uso nao prescrito, inclusive reduzindo a percepcao de risco dos adolescentes. Os riscos decorrentes do uso de tranquilizantes sem prescricao medica devem ser abordados em fases iniciais de programas preventivos sobre drogas, e maior atencao pode ser dada aos grupos de maior risco ao consumo, como meninas e adolescentes com maior poder aquisitivo. Os medicos devem ser alertados sobre o efeito da prescricao medica de tranquilizantes acerca de um eventual uso nao prescrito entre adolescentes, sendo judiciosos ao prescrever para esta faixa etaria. Da mesma forma, adultos devem ser orientados quanto a importancia de nao compartilhar seus psicotropicos ou deixa-los acessiveis para adolescentes / Background: The use of a psychotropic medication without a prescription among young people appears to be a growing global problem. Tranquilizers are used in large scale, with great potential of misuse, abuse and dependence, especially in more vulnerable populations such as adolescents. This study aims to describe the patterns of nonprescribed use of tranquilizers by Brazilian students and to identify these adolescents' characteristics as well as the exposure variables (characteristics) that may lead to (may imply) the use of tranquilizers without a proper prescription. Methods: Analyses were made from a dataset of a randomized and stratified sample of 47979 students aged 10 to 18, attending middle and high school in private and public schools, from the 27 Brazilian state capitals. We used a self-report questionnaire to obtain information regarding the nonprescribed use of tranquilizers and other substances (alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, cocaine/ crack, ecstasy, Benflogin®, amphetamines and opioids), sociodemographic variables (age, gender, socioeconomic status, type of school and country region), access indicators (having received a medical prescription for tranquilizers and use of these substances by a relative or a close friend) and risk perception. Logistic regression models were performed to verify association between nonprescribed lifetime use and the factors we mention above. Results: Nonprescribed lifetime use of tranquilizers was reported by 3.9% of respondents and diazepam was the most cited drug. The main reason to use tranquilizers without a prescription was self-medication and more than 80% of adolescents had obtained them within their own home or by means of a relative. Girls were twice more likely than boys to report the use, as well as adolescents from private schools and higher socioeconomic status. Nonprescribed lifetime use of tranquilizers was associated with lifetime use of alcohol, tobacco, illicit drugs and nonprescribed use of other medications. The nonprescribed use was also associated with having received a medical prescription in the past, the use of tranquilizers by a relative or close friend, as well as low risk perception to the regular nonprescribed use of tranquilizers. Medical prescription was likewise associated with low risk perception among those who ever used tranquilizers. Conclusions: Adolescents’ non-medical use of prescription tranquilizers might indicate the use of other substances including risky combinations such as prescription tranquilizers and alcohol. Family may act directly, by offering, or indirectly, by allowing access and self use. Prior medical prescription might reinforce this behaviour, as well as reduce adolescents’ risk perception. The risks that result from nonmedical use of prescription anxiolytics should be addressed during the early stages of drug prevention programs, and more attention should be given to high risk groups, including girls and adolescents with higher purchasing power. Physicians should be warned about the effect of prescription tranquilizers regarding possible misuse among adolescents, and ought to be judicious when prescribing for this age group. Likewise, adults should be counselled about the importance of not sharing their psychotropic drugs and not leaving them accessible to adolescents. / BV UNIFESP: Teses e dissertações

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Sexual minority individuals demonstrate disparate rates of substance use. Research suggests that bisexual women are vulnerable to substance use disorders when compared to other sexual minority groups. This study explored differences in prevalence of past-year alcohol use disorder (AUD) with and without concurrent past-year opioid and/or benzodiazepine misuse. METHODS: The present study utilized responses from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) public dataset between the years 2015-2019 (N = 16,002) to examine the association between sexual orientation and concurrent misuse of opioids and/or benzodiazepines among individuals with past-year AUD, stratified by sex. RESULTS: Bisexual females demonstrated higher rates of concurrent opioid and benzodiazepine use compared to all other groups. Although there was no association between sexual orientation and concurrent substance use patterns among males, female respondents with past-year AUD endorsing past-year misuse of opioids and benzodiazepines, both alone and in combination, were more likely to be bisexual compared to heterosexual. Lesbians were less likely to endorse concurrent misuse of opioids and benzodiazepines compared to bisexual females. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: In a national sample, bisexual females demonstrated higher odds of risky concurrent substance use patterns. Identifying sexual minority individuals who exhibit elevated risk of co-occurring alcohol, opioid, and/or benzodiazepine misuse is an important step to targeted prevention efforts and allocation of resources to combat rising overdose deaths. SCIENTIFIC SIGNIFICANCE: For the first time, this study explored risky concurrent alcohol, opioid, and benzodiazepine misuse patterns among individuals of different sexual orientations.

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Background: There is a widespread and increasing use of psychoactive prescription drugs, such as opioid analgesics, anxiolytics, hypnotics and anti-epileptics, but their use is associated with a risk of drug use disorder, misuse and abuse. Today, these are globally recognized and emerging public health concerns. Aim: The aim of this thesis is to estimate the prevalence of psychoactive prescription drug (PPD) use disorders, misuse and abuse, and to investigate the association with some potential risk factors. Methods: A study using register data from forensic cause of death investigations investigated and described cases of fatal unintentional intoxication with tramadol (Study I). Based on register data on spontaneously reported adverse drug reactions (ADRs) reported cases of tramadol dependence were investigated and summarised (Study II). In a study in suspected drug-impaired drivers with a toxicology analysis confirming the intake of one out of five pre-specified PPDs, the prevalence of non-prescribed use was assessed and associated factors were investigated (Study III). From a cohort of patients initiating prescribed treatment with pregabalin, using data on prescription fills, a study investigated longitudinal utilisation patterns during five years with regards to use of the drug above the maximum approved daily dose (MAD), and factors associated with the utilisation patterns (Study IV). Results: In the first study, 17 cases of unintentional intoxications were identified, of which more concerned men, the median age was 44 years and the majority used multiple psychoactive substances (alcohol, illicit drugs and prescription drugs). The second study identified 104 spontaneously reported cases of tramadol dependence, in which more concerned women, the median age was 45 years, and a third reported a history of substance abuse and 40% of past psychoactive medication use. In the third study, more than half of the individuals suspected of drug-impaired driving used the drug without a recent prescription. Non prescribed use was most frequent in users of benzodiazepines and tramadol, and was more likely in younger individuals and in multiple-substance users. In the last paper five longitudinal utilisation patterns were found in pregabalin users, with two patterns associated with a particularly high risk of doses above the maximum approved dosing recommendation. This pattern of use was associated with male sex, younger age, non-urban residency and a recent prescribed treatment with an antiepileptic or opioid analgesic drug. Conclusions: This thesis shows that psychoactive prescription drug use disorders, misuse and abuse occur and may have serious and even fatal consequences. The prevalence varies between different drugs and populations. Abuse and misuse seem to be more common in young people. Fatal intoxications and misuse of prescribed drugs may be more common in men, while drug use disorders following prescribed treatment may be more common in women and non-prescribed use equally distributed between women and men. Individuals with a history of mental illness, substance use disorder or abuse, or of past use of psychoactive medications are likely important risk groups. In summary, the findings suggest a potential for improvements in the utilisation of psychoactive prescription drugs. The results may be useful in the planning of clinical and regulatory preventive interventions to promote the rational, individualised and safe use of such drugs.