Abstract
Objectives: To explore the high-risk ways in which older adults obtain prescription opioids and to identify predictors of obtaining prescription opioids from high-risk sources, such as obtaining the same drug from multiple doctors, sharing drugs, and stealing prescription pads. Design: Logistic regression analyses of cross-sectional survey data from the New Jersey Older Adult Survey on Drug Use and Health, a representative random-sample survey. Participants: Adults aged 60 and older (N = 725). Measurements: Items such as obtaining prescriptions for the same drug from more than one doctor and stealing prescription drugs were measured to determine high-risk obtainment of prescription opioids. Results: Almost 15% of the sample used high-risk methods of obtaining prescription opioids. Adults who previously used a prescription opioid recreationally had three times the risk of high-risk obtainment of prescription opioids. Conclusion: These findings illustrate the importance of strengthening prescription drug monitoring programs to reduce high-risk use of prescription drugs in older adults by alerting doctors and pharmacists to potential prescription drug misuse and interactions.
Original language | American English |
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Pages (from-to) | e67-e71 |
Journal | Journal of the American Geriatrics Society |
Volume | 64 |
Issue number | 10 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Oct 1 2016 |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Geriatrics and Gerontology
Keywords
- high-risk drug obtainment
- older adults
- opioids
- prescription painkillers