Comparing the effects of decreasing prescription opioid shipments and the release of an abuse deterrent OxyContin formulation on opioid overdose fatalities in WV: an interrupted time series study.
Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy
; 19(1): 4, 2024 01 04.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38178238
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
The 2010 release of an abuse deterrent formulation (ADF) of OxyContin, a brand name prescription opioid, has been cited as a major driver for the reduction in prescription drug misuse and the associated increasing illicit opioid use and overdose rates. However, studies of this topic often do not account for changes in supplies of other prescription opioids that were widely prescribed before and after the ADF OxyContin release, including generic oxycodone formulations and hydrocodone. We therefore sought to compare the impact of the ADF OxyContin release to that of decreasing prescription opioid supplies in West Virginia (WV).METHODS:
Opioid tablet shipment and overdose data were extracted from The Washington Post ARCOS (2006-2014) and the WV Forensic Drug Database (2005-2020), respectively. Locally estimated scatterplot smoothing (LOESS) was used to estimate the point when shipments of prescription opioids to WV began decreasing, measured via dosage units and morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs). Interrupted time series analysis (ITSA) was used to compare the impact LOESS-identified prescription supply changes and the ADF OxyContin release had on prescription (oxycodone and hydrocodone) and illicit (heroin, fentanyl, and fentanyl analogues) opioid overdose deaths in WV. Model fit was compared using Akaike Information Criteria (AIC).RESULTS:
The majority of opioid tablets shipped to WV from 2006 to 2014 were generic oxycodone or hydrocodone, not OxyContin. After accounting for a 6-month lag from ITSA models using the LOESS-identified change in prescription opioid shipments measured via dosage units (2011 Q3) resulted in the lowest AIC for both prescription (AIC = -188.6) and illicit opioid-involved overdoses (AIC = -189.4), indicating this intervention start date resulted in the preferred model. The second lowest AIC was for models using the ADF OxyContin release as an intervention start date.DISCUSSION:
We found that illicit opioid overdoses in WV began increasing closer to when prescription opioid shipments to the state began decreasing, not when the ADF OxyContin release occurred. Similarly, the majority of opioid tablets shipped to the state for 2006-2014 were generic oxycodone or hydrocodone. This may indicate that diminishing prescription supplies had a larger impact on opioid overdose patterns than the ADF OxyContin release in WV.Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Sobredosis de Droga
/
Sobredosis de Opiáceos
Tipo de estudio:
Prognostic_studies
Límite:
Humans
País/Región como asunto:
America do norte
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy
Asunto de la revista:
TRANSTORNOS RELACIONADOS COM SUBSTANCIAS
Año:
2024
Tipo del documento:
Article