Estimating the proportion of prescription opioids that is consumed by people who inject drugs in Australia

Louisa Degenhardt; Stuart Gilmour; Fiona Shand; Raimondo Bruno; Gabrielle Campbell; Richard P Mattick; Briony Larance; Wayne Hall

doi:10.1111/dar.12066

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Estimating the proportion of prescription opioids that is consumed by people who inject drugs in Australia

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Estimating the proportion of prescription opioids that is consumed by people who inject drugs in Australia

Louisa Degenhardt, Stuart Gilmour, Fiona Shand, Raimondo Bruno, Gabrielle Campbell, Richard P Mattick, Briony Larance and Wayne Hall

Drug and Alcohol Review, Vol.32(5), pp.468-474

2013

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/dar.12066

PMID: 23889303

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Abstract

pharmaceutical opioid

injecting drug use

heroin

chronic pain

opioid substitution therapy

To estimate the contribution that people who inject drugs (PWID) make to population-level use of prescription opioids in Australia. Data on prescriptions of oxycodone, morphine and methadone tablets were obtained for New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and Queensland, and time series analyses used to characterise the trends from 2002 to 2010. Estimates of the number of PWID were combined with data on their levels, frequency and typical doses of morphine, methadone tablet (only prescribed in Australia for pain) and oxycodone from 2004 to 2010. Estimated consumption per 1000 PWID and per 1000 persons aged 20-69 years was contrasted and the proportion of total consumption accounted for by PWID estimated. Morphine prescribing declined; oxycodone prescribing increased. PWID had far higher rates of prescription opioid consumption (defined daily doses per 1000) than the general population. Tasmania had highest use of prescribed opioids. PWID contribution to morphine consumption in Tasmania increased to 28% (range 22-37%) in 2010; elsewhere, PWID contribution was lower (midpoints of 2-12%, 2010). Methadone tablet use was less elevated compared with the general population. With the exception of Tasmania, PWID were estimated to consume less than 5% of oxycodone. PWID use prescription opioids at high levels and can account for a significant proportion of consumption. Increased oxycodone prescribing in Australia has not been driven by PWID. Opioid substitution therapy and other effective treatments need to be more available and attractive to PWID.

Details

Title: Estimating the proportion of prescription opioids that is consumed by people who inject drugs in Australia
Authors: Louisa Degenhardt (Author) - UNSW Australia
Stuart Gilmour (Author) - The University of Tokyo
Fiona Shand (Author) - UNSW Australia
Raimondo Bruno (Author) - University of Tasmania
Gabrielle Campbell (Author) - UNSW Australia
Richard P Mattick (Author) - UNSW Australia
Briony Larance (Author) - UNSW Australia
Wayne Hall (Author) - University of Queensland
Publication details: Drug and Alcohol Review, Vol.32(5), pp.468-474
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
DOI: 10.1111/dar.12066
ISSN: 1465-3362
PMID: 23889303
Organisation Unit: School of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Health and Sport Sciences - Legacy
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99473407802621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Substance Abuse

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