Illicit Drugs
Prescription History Among Individuals Dispensed Opioid Prescriptions, 2017–2020
In response to the opioid overdose crisis, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released the Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain (CDC Guideline) in 2016, which included recommendations to initiate opioids carefully and only when expected benefits outweigh risks.1 Although opioid prescriptions have decreased in recent years,2 an estimated 9.4 million people misused opioids in 2020.3 Little is known about how prescriptions dispensed to opioid-naive individuals (i.e., those new to opioid therapy) have changed in recent years; previous research focused on commercially insured individuals from 2012 to 2017.Comparing Outpatient Opioids, High-Risk Prescribing, and Opioid Poisoning Between Transgender and Cisgender Veterans: A Cross-sectional Analysis
Transgender veterans have a high prevalence of substance use disorder and physical and mental-health comorbidities, which are associated with prescription opioid use and overdose risk. This study compares receipt of outpatient opioids, high-risk opioid prescribing, and opioid poisoning between transgender and cisgender (i.e., nontransgender) veterans.Dual Use of Nicotine and Cannabis Through Vaping Among Adolescents
This study seeks to identify adolescent nicotine and cannabis vaping patterns and the characteristics of those adolescents who comprised each pattern.Substance Use Disorders Among Medicare Beneficiaries: Prevalence, Mental and Physical Comorbidities, and Treatment Barriers
This study aimed to determine the prevalence of treated and untreated substance use disorders among Medicare beneficiaries, the characteristics of Medicare beneficiaries with substance use disorders, and reasons for their unmet needs.Young Adult Healthcare Exposure and Future Opioid Misuse: A Prospective Cohort Study
Outpatient opioid prescribing is associated with opioid misuse in young adults, but the longitudinal association between general healthcare exposure and opioid misuse has not been explored. The objective of this study is to examine the association between healthcare exposure in young adulthood and future opioid misuse.Distribution of Opioid Prescribing and High-Risk Prescribing Among U.S. Dentists in 2019
It is unknown whether certain dentists account for disproportionate shares of dental opioid prescriptions and high-risk prescriptions. Identifying and characterizing such dentists could inform the targeting of initiatives to improve the appropriateness and safety of dental opioid prescribing.Trends in Opioid Prescribing by General Dentists and Dental Specialists in the U.S., 2012–2019
Evidence suggests that U.S. dentists prescribe opioids excessively. There are limited national data on recent trends in opioid prescriptions by U.S. dentists. In this study, we examined trends in opioid prescribing by general dentists and dental specialists in the U.S. from 2012 to 2019.Opioids Dispensed in the U.S. by Prescribing Specialty, 2012–2017
Increases in opioid prescribing contributed to the opioid epidemic in the U.S. Subsequent efforts to promote safer use of opioids for treating pain included augmenting prescription drug monitoring programs and prescribing guidelines. The purpose of this study is to characterize the distribution of opioids dispensed in the U.S. by specialty.Simultaneous Alcohol/Cannabis Use and Driving Under the Influence in the U.S.
Alcohol and cannabis are commonly involved in motor vehicle crashes and fatalities. This study examines whether simultaneous use of alcohol/cannabis is associated with higher odds of reporting driving under the influence of alcohol and cannabis in the U.S.Role of Mental Health in the Association Between E-Cigarettes and Cannabis Use
E-cigarette use may be associated prospectively with subsequent cannabis use among U.S. adolescents. However, it remains unclear whether this association differs by individual mental health status. This longitudinal study examines effect modifications by mental health status.Protective Factors for Nicotine and Marijuana Vaping Among U.S. Adolescents
Nicotine and marijuana vaping among U.S. adolescents are public health priorities. Research has assessed the demographic and risk factors related to vaping, but there is a dearth of research on protective factors for vaping. On the basis of the healthy youth development perspective, the developmental assets framework is used to assess cumulative protective factors and vaping in a national sample of adolescents.Trends in Prescription Opioid and Nonopioid Analgesic Use by Race, 1996–2017
Identifying racial differences in trends in prescription opioid use (POU) is essential for formulating evidence-based responses to the opioid epidemic. This study analyzes trends in the prevalence of POU and exclusive nonopioid analgesic use (ENA) by race–ethnicity.Abrupt Discontinuation From Long-Term Opioid Therapy in Massachusetts, 2015–2018
In response to the opioid overdose crisis, providers were urged to taper and discontinue patients from long-term opioid therapy; however, abrupt discontinuation may lead to poor health outcomes. This study aims to determine abrupt and tapered discontinuation rates and identify the patient and provider characteristics associated with abrupt discontinuation.Concurrent Use of Prescription Opioids and Gabapentinoids in Older Adults
Concurrent use of prescription opioids with gabapentinoids may pose risks of serious drug interactions. Yet, little is known about the trends in and patient characteristics associated with concurrent opioid–gabapentinoid use among older Medicare opioid users with chronic noncancer pain.Maternal Substance Use Disorders and Accidental Drug Poisonings in Children
Risk factors for accidental drug poisonings in children are poorly understood, including the association with maternal substance use. This study seeks to determine whether maternal substance use disorders before birth are associated with the future risk of accidental drug poisonings in young children.Associations Among Military Sexual Trauma, Opioid Use Disorder, and Gender
Opioid use disorder and high-risk opioid prescription increase the risks for overdose and death. In Veterans, military sexual trauma is associated with increased risk for assorted health conditions. This study evaluates the association of military sexual trauma with opioid use disorder and high-risk opioid prescription and potential moderation by gender.Discontinuation of Long-Term Opioid Therapy in Patients With Versus Without Dementia
Discontinuation of long-term opioid therapy has increased in recent years, but whether this trend extends to patients with Alzheimer disease and related dementia remains unclear.Trends in State-Level Pharmacy-Based Naloxone Dispensing Rates, 2012–2019
Improving access to naloxone is an important public health strategy in the U.S. This study examines the state-level trends in naloxone dispensing from 2012 to 2019 for all 50 states and the District of Columbia.Legal System Involvement and Opioid-Related Overdose Mortality in U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Patients
Opioid-related overdose risks are elevated after incarceration. The rates of opioid-related overdose mortality have risen in recent years, including among Veterans Health Administration patients. To inform Veteran overdose prevention, this study evaluates whether opioid-related overdose risks differ for Veterans Health Administration patients with versus those without indicators of legal system involvement.Recreational Marijuana Legalization and Co-use With Alcohol Among Adolescents
Little is known about the possible impacts of recreational marijuana legalization on alcohol and marijuana co-use among underage youth. This study examines the association between recreational marijuana legalization in California in 2016 and alcohol and marijuana co-use among adolescents. Additional analyses investigate the associations between recreational marijuana legalization and co-use among past 30–day drinkers and marijuana users and the frequency of alcohol and marijuana use among co-users.Emerging Indoor Air Laws for Onsite Cannabis Consumption Businesses in the U.S.
Secondhand cannabis smoke, like secondhand tobacco smoke, creates unhealthy indoor air quality. Ventilation and engineering techniques cannot reduce this pollution to healthy levels, and complete smoke-free policies are the only way to provide healthy indoor environments. Even so, multiple state and local governments have begun to allow indoor smoking of cannabis in businesses.Outpatient Prescribing of Antibiotics and Opioids by Veterans Health Administration Providers, 2015–2017
Antibiotics and opioids are targeted by public health and stewardship communities for reductions in prescribing across the country. This study evaluates trends and factors associated with outpatient prescribing by dental and medical providers in a large integrated health system.Marijuana Use Among Women of Reproductive Age With Disabilities
Despite the increasing prevalence and potential adverse health outcomes associated with marijuana use, limited research exists related to its use in women of reproductive age with disabilities. The purpose of this study is to examine the past-month marijuana use in women of reproductive age with disabilities.Robust Prescription Monitoring Programs and Abrupt Discontinuation of Long-term Opioid Use
This study assesses the associations between the recent implementation of robust features of state Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs and the abrupt discontinuation of long-term opioid therapies.
