TY - JOUR
AU - B. J. Piper
AU - C. E. Desrosiers
AU - J. W. Lipovsky
AU - M. A. Rodney
AU - R. P. Baker
AU - K. L. McCall
AU - S. D. Nichols
AU - S. L. Martin
A1 - 
AB - OBJECTIVE: Although opioids have substantial efficacy for acute pain management, escalation to opioid misuse and abuse is a persistent concern. This report assesses the current status of the opioid epidemic in Maine using three complementary data sets. METHOD: A representative sample of pharmacists (N = 275) completed an online survey regarding the extent that opioids affected their practice. A county-level analysis of opioid prescriptions (N = 1.22 million) reported to the Maine Prescription Monitoring Program (M-PMP) in 2014 and the agents implicated in arrests as reported to the Maine Diversion Alert Program (DAP, N = 2,700) in 2014/15 also was completed. RESULTS: A significantly greater number of pharmacists agreed that opioid misuse (85.9%), rather than diversion (76.8%) or access (54.2%), was a concern. Only half (56.2%) reported use of the M-PMP. Opioids were dispensed to 22.4% of residents (37.7% of women in their 80s). This was enough to supply everyone in Maine with a 16.1-day supply. Buprenorphine accounted for almost half of opioid prescriptions to young adults (46.3% women, 49.3% men). Arrests increased by 13.3% from 2014 to 2015, and the proportion of arrests that involved prescription opioids decreased while those involving stimulants and heroin were elevated. CONCLUSIONS: Pharmacists are very aware of the potential for opioid misuse, but many do not consistently use the M-PMP. There continues to be substantial legitimate use, as well as criminal activity, involving oxycodone and other prescription opioids. Continued vigilance and use of tools like the PMP and DAP are necessary to minimize nonmedical use of opioids in Maine.
BT - Journal of studies on alcohol and drugs
C5 - Opioids & Substance Use; Education & Workforce
CP - 4
CY - United States
IS - 4
JF - Journal of studies on alcohol and drugs
N2 - OBJECTIVE: Although opioids have substantial efficacy for acute pain management, escalation to opioid misuse and abuse is a persistent concern. This report assesses the current status of the opioid epidemic in Maine using three complementary data sets. METHOD: A representative sample of pharmacists (N = 275) completed an online survey regarding the extent that opioids affected their practice. A county-level analysis of opioid prescriptions (N = 1.22 million) reported to the Maine Prescription Monitoring Program (M-PMP) in 2014 and the agents implicated in arrests as reported to the Maine Diversion Alert Program (DAP, N = 2,700) in 2014/15 also was completed. RESULTS: A significantly greater number of pharmacists agreed that opioid misuse (85.9%), rather than diversion (76.8%) or access (54.2%), was a concern. Only half (56.2%) reported use of the M-PMP. Opioids were dispensed to 22.4% of residents (37.7% of women in their 80s). This was enough to supply everyone in Maine with a 16.1-day supply. Buprenorphine accounted for almost half of opioid prescriptions to young adults (46.3% women, 49.3% men). Arrests increased by 13.3% from 2014 to 2015, and the proportion of arrests that involved prescription opioids decreased while those involving stimulants and heroin were elevated. CONCLUSIONS: Pharmacists are very aware of the potential for opioid misuse, but many do not consistently use the M-PMP. There continues to be substantial legitimate use, as well as criminal activity, involving oxycodone and other prescription opioids. Continued vigilance and use of tools like the PMP and DAP are necessary to minimize nonmedical use of opioids in Maine.
PP - United States
PY - 2016
SN - 1938-4114; 1937-1888
SP - 556
EP - 565
EP - 
T1 - Use and Misuse of Opioids in Maine: Results From Pharmacists, the Prescription Monitoring, and the Diversion Alert Programs
T2 - Journal of studies on alcohol and drugs
TI - Use and Misuse of Opioids in Maine: Results From Pharmacists, the Prescription Monitoring, and the Diversion Alert Programs
U1 - Opioids & Substance Use; Education & Workforce
U2 - 27340958
VL - 77
VO - 1938-4114; 1937-1888
Y1 - 2016
ER -