OxyContin® use and misuse in three populations: Substance abuse patients, pain patients, and criminal justice participants

Abstract

This study was designed to describe and compare individuals in rural Appalachia prescribed, abusing or diverting OxyContin a region with high rates of prescription medication abuse and misuse. Fifty subjects treated for OxyContin abuse, 34 subjects prescribed OxyContin for pain and 50 subjects incarcerated due to OxyContin-related charges from rural Appalachia. The Addiction Severity Index, DSM-IV Checklist, and an investigator developed questionnaire were administered to all three groups. All three groups included individuals prescribed OxyContin for pain and demographic variables and psychiatric/medical histories failed to discriminate between the pain and substance abuse (SA) subjects. SA and criminal justice subjects were significantly more likely to have a current DSM-IV diagnosis ofpsychoactive abuse/dependence and more likely to be younger and unmarried. This study found that these groups are not distinct and in depth evaluations, including a detailed SA history, are needed to identify the pain patient at risk for abuse and/or diversion of prescribed opioids.