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The misuse of prescription opioids is an epidemic in the United States. Indeed, the misuse of prescription opioids results in unintentional overdose deaths and substance use disorders. Given the growing number of casualties, it is essential for people to know the dangers of prescription opioids and their misuse and abuse.

In particular, the five studies about prescription opioids provided below illuminate the diverse populations under threat. Indeed, the face of the person misusing and even abusing prescription opioids is not the face you might expect to see. Tarzana Treatment Centers (TTC) has seen a sharp rise in people struggling with the misuse and abuse of prescription opioids. Coming from all levels of society, upon being ambushed by the power of these dangerous narcotics, these people desperately require help.

As a provider of integrated healthcare and recovery services, TTC is at the forefront of this battle. Hence, we know that information and education are essential. The more people know about the danger, the less likely they are to be hurt by such a threat. Thus, building awareness helps to reduce the danger. Given the length and breadth of the opioid addiction and overdose crisis in our country, such knowledge is one of the keys to saving innocent lives.

Five Studies about the Misuse of Prescription Opioids

1) HOW PEOPLE OBTAIN THE PRESCRIPTION PAIN RELIEVERS THEY MISUSE

CBHSQ Report is prepared by the Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality (2017)

Sponsored by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the CBHSQ Reports compile the best data available to create easily readable findings. Incredibly, according to the report, “About one-half of those who misused prescription pain relievers in the past year said that they obtained the prescription pain relievers they had most recently misused from a friend or relative for free (50.5 percent).”

In most cases, the misuse of prescription opioids, in the beginning, happens without an exchange of money. Later, once dependence sets in, “frequent users… obtain their most recently misused pain relievers by buying them from a friend or relative, by buying them from a drug dealer or other stranger, or by obtaining them from more than one doctor.” In other words, easy access through friends and family quickly descends into illegal exchanges with dangerous unknowns.

2) Gender differences in prescription opioid use

Curr Opin Psychiatry 2017 Jul; 30(4): 238–246 – US National Library of Medicine (2017)

Published by the National Institutes of Health, this gender-based study shows that the misuse of prescription opioids shifts the typical use profile of most illegal drug use. When it comes to most illegal drugs, ranging from heroin to crystal methamphetamine, men are the more likely users. With the misuse of prescription opioids, however, women change the picture. As the researchers express in their conclusions, “Findings from the literature and our data suggest women are more likely to use prescription opioids compared to men.”

3) Older adults’ knowledge, beliefs and attitudes about prescription opioids

Advances in Dual Diagnosis, Vol. 14 No. 2, pp. 47-57

When it comes to the misuse of prescription opioids, senior citizens are at greater risk. First, they have more aches and pains to address as well as chronic medical conditions. Second, doctors are more likely to haphazardly prescribe prescription opioids to this population. Thus, one would expect older adults to have a greater awareness of the dangers of the misuse of prescription opioids. However, this is not necessarily the case.

As the authors discover, “Even though study participants demonstrated high levels of education and understanding of the potential of addiction to opiates, there were a number of misconceptions about prescription pain medications revealed.” Indeed, these gaps in understanding lead directly to the further misuse of prescription opioids.

4) Strategies to Identify Patient Risks of Prescription Opioid Addiction When Initiating Opioids for Pain – A Systematic Review

JAMA Network Open. 2019;2(5): e193365. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.3365

What proves fascinating about this study is that even doctors do not know how to ensure the prevention of the misuse of prescription opioids. Indeed, as the researchers conclude, “This study suggests that there are few valid ways to identify patients who can be safely prescribed opioid analgesics… Despite their widespread use, most screening tools involving combinations of questions were based on low-quality studies or, when diagnostic performance was assessed among high-quality studies, demonstrated poor performance in helping to identify patients at high vs low risk.”

In other words, the screening tools presently used to evaluate the risk of future misuse of prescription opioids do not work. Thus, according to doctors, everyone is potentially at risk. Although higher-risk patients are obvious (past drugs users, co-occurring disorders, etc.), low-risk patients are hard to predict. Hence, everyone is at risk.

5) Exposure to childhood trauma increases risk of opioid use disorder among people prescribed opioids for chronic non-cancer pain

Drug and Alcohol Dependence Volume 230, 1 January 2022, 109199

When it comes to the use of painkillers for chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP), childhood trauma is a definite factor. It contributes to the misuse of prescription opioids. Moreover, patients with childhood trauma are more likely to develop opioid use disorder (OUD), meaning addiction. As the researchers explain “Among people prescribed opioids for CNCP, childhood trauma exposure was a common, independent risk factor for OUD. Availability of trauma-informed services for those prescribed opioids for CNCP may reduce risk of transition to OUD.”

The Misuse of Prescription Opioids = A Serious Issue

There is no doubt that the misuse of prescription opioids is a serious issue in American society. Indeed, at Tarzana Treatment Centers, we know that this grave issue truly does equal a problem of epidemic proportions. Too many innocent people are casualties.

Thus, given the dangers of the misuse of prescription opioids, TTC is here to help. Please contact us today if you think a loved one is struggling with the misuse of prescription opioids. With half a century of experience, we know how to help a struggling person find a sustainable road to recovery.