RESUMO
Opioid abuse, misuse and overdose is now a public health epidemic receiving political, medical, and media attention at all levels. Despite the fact that many people know someone suffering from addiction, there is very little research focusing on this issue in older adults. Chronic pain, a highly prevalent affliction for the aging population, has been accompanied by a significant increase in opioid use. This, along with some unique aspects of older adults (increased susceptibility to illness, higher likelihood of altered presentation of illness, and impaired recovery), means that great care needs to be taken when considering opioids for treatment. Prudent prescribing is possible, but universal precautions should be taken to reduce the risk of opioid abuse, misuse, and addiction. This review provides education, summarizes current literature, and gives guidance in universal precautions for prescribing opioids.
Assuntos
Transtornos Relacionados ao Uso de Opioides/epidemiologia , Distribuição por Idade , Idoso , Analgésicos Opioides/efeitos adversos , Analgésicos Opioides/uso terapêutico , Dor Crônica/tratamento farmacológico , Depressão/epidemiologia , Overdose de Drogas/epidemiologia , Humanos , Programas de Rastreamento , Adesão à Medicação , Medição de Risco , West Virginia/epidemiologiaRESUMO
Prescription drug abuse has reached epidemic proportions in the United States and West Virginia is not immune. It is estimated that in 2009, the number of adolescents and adults with a substance abuse and/or dependence problem has reached 23.2 million in the US. There has been an alarming rate of increased sales of methadone, hydrocodone and oxycodone. This article addresses the scope of the problem of prescription drug abuse in West Virginia and the impact by and on the addicted individual. Addiction is a chronic relapsing neuropsychiatric illness manifested by compulsive drug seeking and use. It has created a substantive socioeconomic burden on our state. Prescription drug abuse and addiction increase medical expenses, drug related crime and unemployment. There are misconceptions regarding the etiology and treatment of addiction based on past clinical experience. The view of addiction as volitional misconduct alone has been disproven scientifically. A more current understanding of neurobiological alterations caused by this disease, current treatment strategies and future directions will be presented. This article provides an understanding of prescription drug abuse and addiction's contribution and impact on society's health and social policy. Addressing the problem of prescription drug abuse requires an understanding of the disease of addiction, thus enhancing the effectiveness in diminishing the associated health and social costs. It is the article's intent to illuminate the mutually symbiotic relationship of prescription drug abuse and the disease of addiction and subsequently provide recommendations toward the resolution of this most important issue.