Patterns of abuse among unintentional pharmaceutical XXXX fatalities.

@entity1 @entity739 @entity204 @entity1445 @entity734
CONTEXT: Use and abuse of prescription narcotic analgesics have increased dramatically in the United States since 1990. The effect of this pharmacoepidemic has been most pronounced in rural states, including @entity739 , which experienced the nation's largest increase in @entity1445 mortality rates during 1999-2004. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the risk characteristics of @entity1 dying of unintentional pharmaceutical @entity1445 in @entity739 , the types of drugs involved, and the role of @entity734 in the deaths. DESIGN, SETTING, AND @entity1 : Population-based, observational study using data from medical examiner, prescription drug monitoring program, and opiate treatment program records. The study population was all state residents who died of unintentional pharmaceutical @entity1445 in @entity739 in 2006. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Rates and rate ratios for selected demographic variables. Prevalence of specific drugs among decedents and proportion that had been prescribed to decedents. Associations between demographics and substance abuse indicators and evidence of pharmaceutical diversion, defined as a @entity204 involving a prescription drug without a documented prescription and having received prescriptions for controlled substances from 5 or more clinicians during the year prior to @entity204 (ie, doctor shopping). RESULTS: Of 295 decedents, 198 (67.1%) were @entity1 and 271 (91.9%) were aged 18 through 54 years. Pharmaceutical diversion was associated with 186 (63.1%) deaths, while 63 (21.4%) were accompanied by evidence of doctor shopping. Prevalence of diversion was greatest among decedents aged 18 through 24 years and decreased across each successive age group. Having prescriptions for a controlled substance from 5 or more clinicians in the year prior to @entity204 was more common among @entity1 (30 [30.9%]) and decedents aged 35 through 44 years (23 [30.7%]) compared with @entity1 (33 [16.7%]) and other age groups (40 [18.2%]). Substance abuse indicators were identified in 279 decedents (94.6%), with nonmedical routes of exposure and illicit contributory drugs particularly prevalent among drug diverters. Multiple contributory substances were implicated in 234 deaths (79.3%). Opioid analgesics were taken by 275 decedents (93.2%), of whom only 122 (44.4%) had ever been prescribed these drugs. CONCLUSION: The majority of @entity1445 deaths in @entity739 in 2006 were associated with nonmedical use and diversion of pharmaceuticals, primarily opioid analgesics.
