Opioid analgesics and heroin: Examining drug misuse trends among a sample of drug treatment clients in Kentucky

The International Journal on Drug Policy
Grant A VictorT K Logan

Abstract

In an effort to mitigate Kentucky's prescription drug misuse, legislative intervention efforts were introduced in 2012 and 2013 to better regulate pain clinics, prescribed use of opioid analgesics, and to expand the monitoring of opioid prescriptions. The focus of this paper is primarily on opioid analgesics and heroin and the relationship of use/misuse patterns of these drugs to state drug policy initiatives. A secondary data analysis of drug treatment clients (N=52,360) was conducted to project illicit drug use trends in Kentucky. This study describes temporal and geographic trends of self-reported illicit drug use among individuals in state-funded treatment in Kentucky between fiscal year 2010 and fiscal year 2013. Significant reductions in the prevalence of illicit opioid use, declined from fiscal year 2010 to fiscal year 2013 (p<.01, CI=-.298 to -.215). However, heroin use rates significantly increased over the years studied, suggesting there may be a transition from prescription opioids to heroin (p<.01, CI=.143 to .178). The analysis suggests these trends may continue. Findings suggest Kentucky's legislative efforts were effective in reducing illicit prescription opioid use, but heroin use has increased. One possible exp...Continue Reading

Citations

Nov 30, 2018·American Journal of Public Health·David Goodman-MezaDan Werb
Dec 11, 2019·Substance Abuse : Official Publication of the Association for Medical Education and Research in Substance Abuse·Devon Meadowcroft, Brian Whitacre
Mar 10, 2020·Journal of Psychiatry and Brain Science·Caroline R ScherzerFrancesca L Beaudoin
Jul 9, 2020·Addictive Behaviors Reports·Philip HuynhBrad Ray
Nov 24, 2020·The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse·Kirsten Elin SmithErin Winston
Oct 14, 2020·The International Journal on Drug Policy·Grant A VictorChristopher Flaherty
Jun 3, 2021·Pharmacy : Journal of Pharmacy, Education and Practice·Lisa L WeyandtMarisa Marraccini

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