Role of key informants and direct patient interviews in epidemiological studies of substance abuse.

PURPOSE: The present study was undertaken to assess the degree to which key informants' perceptions of relative abuse liability of opioids in their communities correspond to actual drug use in their patients. METHODS: Key informants (n = 49) and their patients (n = 738) were asked to complete anonymous, independent paper surveys about perceived or actual abuse of nine targeted opioid drugs: buprenorphine, fentanyl, heroin, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, methadone, morphine, oxycodone and tramadol. RESULTS: There was a strong correspondence (R = 0.98) between KI rankings of relative abuse of opioids in their patient population and the actual rank order calculated from their patients' selection of a primary euphorigenic opioid. The patient surveys not only validated the KI's conclusions, but also provided a great deal of important information about the nature of the abuse patterns. Notably, significant co-morbidity was found in the patient population: 55% had a history of psychiatric problems; chronic pain of moderate intensity was common; 67% were nicotine dependent; and 43% were diagnosed alcoholics. DISCUSSION: Our results demonstrate that KI's perceived rank order of drugs of choice correlated almost perfectly with their patients' choice of a primary drug. These data suggest that key informants, as they have for decades in epidemiological research, provide a reliable, high-level view of substance abuse in their catchment area. As such, KIs provide valid and reliable information on scope and patterns of abuse, but if more detail is required about the characteristics of abuse, such as that required for FDA-mandated Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies, then direct interviews with the abusers themselves seem more appropriate.

Determinants of fentanyl and other potent µ opioid agonist misuse in opioid-dependent individuals.

PURPOSE: Based on preclinical and clinical abuse liability assessments, fentanyl and other potent µ opioid agonists (e.g., hydromorphone and morphine) should be the most misused opioids if accessibility in the real world were not an issue. Since the latter is seldom true, we postulated that there would be a significant mismatch between actual and predicted rates of misuse. METHODS: We recruited 1818 prescription-opioid dependent patients entering drug treatment programs to complete an anonymous survey, covering drug use and health related issues. RESULTS: Hydrocodone and oxycodone products were the drugs of choice in 75% of patients, whereas potent µ opioid agonists (fentanyl, hydromorphone, and morphine), with the greatest predicted abuse potential, were very rarely chosen (< 5% each). Most unexpectedly, the rank order of the actual drug of choice and the preferred drug in an ideal world were highly correlated. The reason most commonly given for the failure to endorse fentanyl, for example, as an actual or preferred drug, was fear of toxicity and overdose. We found few differences in drug use patterns between a subset of high-risk, impaired health care professionals (N = 196), and all other patients other than source of drug (forged prescriptions and doctors more common and dealers much less common in the HC sample). CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that it should not be assumed--particularly for new drug formulations--that a high potential for abuse will result in actual abuse; and, most importantly, that the hesitancy to use potent opioids because of fears of abuse may be misguided.