Using prescribing and toxicology data to determine non-medical prescription drug overdose

Philip Huynh; Grant Victor; Brad Ray

doi:10.1016/j.abrep.2020.100289

Using prescribing and toxicology data to determine non-medical prescription drug overdose

Addict Behav Rep. 2020 Jun 8:12:100289. doi: 10.1016/j.abrep.2020.100289. eCollection 2020 Dec.

Authors

Philip Huynh¹, Grant Victor¹, Brad Ray¹

Affiliation

¹ Center for Behavioral Health and Justice at Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States.

Abstract

Background: Overdose deaths have increased dramatically in the United States and are often attributed to prescription opioids. This study presents a framework for "overdose typologies", including non-medical prescription drug use, to more accurately describe drug use patterns.

Methods: This study examined linked prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) and toxicology data (2016-2018) from accidental overdose deaths from a large metropolitan coroner's office in the Midwest (Indianapolis, Indiana).

Results: In total, 1,112 accidental overdose deaths occurred and over two-thirds (68.0%; n = 756) were coded as an illicit drug user with no prescription opioid present in the toxicology. The most infrequent categories were prescription opioid users 5.5% (n = 61).

Conclusion: Linked PDMP and toxicology reports are useful in identifying drug use patterns that contribute to mortality.

Keywords: Non-medical prescription drug use; Opioids; Overdose; PDMP; Toxicology.