Abuse of tapentadol compared to other atypical opioids among individuals entering treatment for opioid use disorders.

Objective: Tapentadol is an atypical opioid analgesic thought to have dual mechanisms of action: µ-receptor agonism and inhibition of norepinephrine reuptake. Unlike other atypical opioids, tapentadol is a schedule II-controlled substance. We compared the prevalence of abuse (use to get high) of tapentadol to other atypical opioids used to treat pain (buprenor-phine and tramadol).

Overcoming Impediments to OTP Expansion in the United States and Abroad.

By all published accounts and federal government reports, the United States is experiencing a serious opioid use epidemic. Additional treatment resources are needed in order to provide access to evidence based medical care for untreated individuals with substance use disorders. The focus of this commentary is increasing access to more opioid treatment programs and overcoming the significant impediments, which block such efforts.

Assessment of Tapentadol API Abuse Liability With the Researched Abuse, Diversion and Addiction-Related Surveillance System.

Unlabelled: Tapentadol, a Schedule II opioid with a combination of µ-opioid activity and norepinephrine reuptake inhibition, is used for the management of moderate to severe acute and chronic pain. Its dual mechanism of action is thought to reduce opioid-related side effects that can complicate pain management. Since approval, tapentadol has been tracked across multiple outcomes suggesting abuse liability, and a pattern of relatively low, although not absent, abuse liability has been found.

Sustained reduction of diversion and abuse after introduction of an abuse deterrent formulation of extended release oxycodone.

Background: The development of abuse deterrent formulations is one strategy for reducing prescription opioid misuse and abuse. A putative abuse deterrent formulation of oxycodone extended release (OxyContin) was introduced in 2010. Early reports demonstrated reduced abuse and diversion, however, an analysis of social media found 32 feasible methods to circumvent the abuse deterrent mechanism.

Challenges and Opportunities for the Use of Medications to Treat Opioid Addiction in the United States and Other Nations of the World.

There has been a well documented increase in the use and abuse of prescription opioids and heroin in the United States and other parts of the world. There has also been an increasing focus to increase access to the use of medications (methadone, buprenorphine, Naltrexone/Vivitrol) for opioid addicted individuals under legal supervision. As policymakers engage in strategic initiatives to better prevent and effectively treat chronic opioid addiction, both in the United States and other countries, there are a number of unintended consequences, complicating how best to increase access to effective treatment.

Trends in opioid analgesic abuse and mortality in the United States.

Background: The use of prescription opioid medications has increased greatly in the United States during the past two decades; in 2010, there were 16,651 opioid-related deaths. In response, hundreds of federal, state, and local interventions have been implemented. We describe trends in the diversion and abuse of prescription opioid analgesics using data through 2013.

Distance traveled and cross-state commuting to opioid treatment programs in the United States.

This study examined commuting patterns among 23,141 methadone patients enrolling in 84 opioid treatment programs (OTPs) in the United States. Patients completed an anonymous one-page survey. A linear mixed model analysis was used to predict distance traveled to the OTP.

Validity of self-reported misuse of prescription opioid analgesics.

Aim: To determine concurrent validity of self-reported misuse of prescription opioids.

Design And Setting: Cross-sectional study in five U.S.

Post-marketing surveillance of methadone and buprenorphine in the United States.

Introduction: There have been recent increases in the use of methadone and buprenorphine in the United States. Methadone is increasingly being used for pain management, and buprenorphine use has expanded to include treatment for opioid addiction, leading to exposures of these drugs in new populations. There is a debate about the relative safety of these two drugs in routine outpatient medical use.

Variation among state-level approaches to addressing alcohol abuse in opioid treatment programs.

In view of their role in licensing opioid treatment programs (OTPs), state opioid treatment authorities (SOTAs) are in a unique position to influence how OTPs address their patients' alcohol abuse. Using data from a telephone survey of SOTAs from the District of Columbia and states that have at least one OTP (n = 46), this study examines the extent to which SOTAs address alcohol abuse in their respective state policies and guidelines for OTPs. Findings indicate that 27 states have overall measures on how to address patients' problematic alcohol use, 23 states require or recommend alcohol education to be provided to all patients, and 17 states have stipulations that address specific actions to be taken if patients present at daily dosing under the influence of alcohol.

The "black box" of prescription drug diversion.

A variety of surveys and studies are examined in an effort to better understand the scope of prescription drug diversion and to determine whether there are consistent patterns of diversion among various populations of prescription drug abusers. Data are drawn from the RADARS System, the National Survey of Drug Use and Health, the Delaware School Survey, and a series of quantitative and qualitative studies conducted in Miami, Florida. The data suggest that the major sources of diversion include drug dealers, friends and relatives, smugglers, pain patients, and the elderly, but these vary by the population being targeted.

Alcohol education provided to opioid treatment program patients: results of a nationwide survey.

Alcohol-related problems are especially common among opioid treatment program (OTP) patients, suggesting that educating OTP patients about alcohol and its harmful effects needs to be a priority in OTPs. Using data collected in interviews with a nationwide U.S.

Integrating nine prescription opioid analgesics and/or four signal detection systems to summarize statewide prescription drug abuse in the United States in 2007.

Purpose: Integrate statewide rankings of abuse across different drugs and/or signal detection systems to summarize prescription drug abuse in each state in 2007.

Methods: Four signal detection systems (Opioid Treatment Programs, Key Informants, Drug Diversion, and Poison Centers) that covered heterogeneous populations collected data on the abuse of nine opioids: hydrocodone, immediate-release oxycodone, tramadol, extended-release [ER] oxycodone, fentanyl, morphine, methadone, hydromorphone, and buprenorphine). We introduce here linearized maps which integrate nine drugs within each system; four systems for each drug; or all drugs and systems.

Prescription opioid abuse among enrollees into methadone maintenance treatment.

A multi-state survey of 5663 opioid dependent persons enrolling in 72 methadone maintenance treatment programs (MMTPs) was conducted to determine the prevalence of prescription opioid (PO) abuse, factors associated with PO abuse and sources for POs. Regions where PO abuse was believed to be prevalent were oversampled; primary opioid was defined as the drug used the most before coming to the MMTP. Among primary heroin abusers, 69% reported abusing POs.