Rates Of Opioid Use Research Articles

Opioid use in rural breast cancer patients.

10124 Background: The Epidemic opioid overuse spans different communities and cancer patients frequently develop pain from their disease, cancer therapy or sequela for which opioids are commonly used. Breast Cancer is a common malignancy seen across different practices. Methods: This is a retrospective study evaluating BC patients Stages I-III from January 2013 until January 2018 in three rural community cancer practices in Southeast New Mexico who had been prescribed opioids during their cancer diagnosis and treatment. Exclusions were development of Stage IV, other concurrent malignancies, remote history of cancer for which use opioid data was missing. Chi-square and logistic regression were performed to identify correlation and predictors of long term opioid use respectively. Results: A total of 664 patients were identified; among these 150 (23%) were prescribed an opioid at some point. 54 were excluded according to prespecified criteria. The rate of opioid use was 72% (69/96) at 3 months, 62 % at 6 months (60/96) and 52% (50/96) at 12 months. 72% of user at 3 months (50/69) were also using opioids at 12 months from initial prescription x2 40.8 p=<0.001. Also 83% (50/60) of opioid use at 6 months were opioid user at 12 months x2 62.6 p=<0.001. Patient with smoking history, type of initial opioid (tramadol), opioid prescribed by surgeon, history of mental health and residence in smaller rural communities were more likely to continue using long term opioid, however it was not statistically significant. Conclusions: Curable breast cancer patients with increased short-term use of opioids at 3 months are significantly associated with continued long-term use at one year. Several factors in the rural community may need to be further evaluated in larger studies.

Opioid use in long term cancer survivors.

6520Background: Our research team previously found that the rate of opioid use in cancer patients surviving at least 5 years beyond diagnosis was 1.2 times higher compared with age-sex matched cont...

Opioid Prescriptions in Older Medicare Beneficiaries After the 2014 Federal Rescheduling of Hydrocodone Products.

To examine how an October 2014 Drug Enforcement Administration policy reclassified hydrocodone product from schedule III to II has affected older adults, who are among the largest consumers of prescription opioids in the United States. Retrospective cohort study. United States. A 20% sample of Medicare Part D beneficiaries aged 65 and older from 2013 through 2015 (> 2,500,000 beneficiaries each year) MEASUREMENTS: From January 2013 to December 2015, we calculated the monthly prevalence of opioid prescriptions and the prevalence of individuals who received prescriptions for a 90-day supply or longer (prolonged), as well as hospitalizations related to opioid toxicity in 2013 and 2015. From 2013 to 2015, the proportion of Medicare Part D enrollees who received a hydrocodone prescription in a year decreased from 21.9% to 18.3%. Monthly rates for hydrocodone prescriptions declined significantly in 2014. The risk of receiving prolonged opioid prescriptions decreased by approximately 7% in the multivariable analyses comparing 2015 to 2013 (prevalence ratio=0.93, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.93-0.94). Medicare enrollees with an original entitlement because ofdisability or with Medicaid eligibility had smaller decreases in prolonged prescriptions and, unexpectedly, small increases in high-dose prescriptions. Opioid-related hospitalizations did not change significantly, but opioid-related hospitalizations without a documented opioid prescription increased (odds ratio=1.24, 95% CI=1.03-1.50). The 2014 change in hydrocodone from schedule III to schedule II was associated with modest decreases in rates of opioid use in the elderly. The unexpected increase in opioid-related hospitalizations without documented opioid prescriptions may represent an increase in illegal use.

Opioid use following cervical spine surgery: trends and factors associated with long-term use.

Limited or no data exist evaluating risk factors associated with prolonged opioid use following cervical arthrodesis. The objectives of this study were to assess trends in postoperative narcotic use among preoperative opioid users (OUs) versus non-opioid users (NOUs) and to identify factors associated with postoperative narcotic use at 1 year following cervical arthrodesis. This is a retrospective observational study. The patient sample included 17,391 patients (OU: 52.4%) registered in the Humana Inc claims dataset who underwent anterior cervical fusion (ACF) or posterior cervical fusion (PCF) between 2007 and 2015. Prolonged opioid usage was defined as narcotic prescription filling at 1 year following cervical arthrodesis. Based on preoperative opioid use, patients were identified as an OU (history of narcotic prescription filled within 3 months before surgery) or a NOU (no preoperative prescription). Rates of opioid use were evaluated preoperatively for OU and trended for 1 year postoperatively for both OU and NOU. Multivariable regression techniques investigated factors associated with the use of narcotics at 1 year following ACF and PCF. Based on the model findings, a web-based interactive app was developed to estimate 1-year postoperative risk of using narcotics following cervical arthrodesis (http://neuro-risk.com/opiod-use/ or https://www.neurosurgerycost.com/opioid/opioid_use). Overall, 87.4% of the patients (n=15,204) underwent ACF, whereas 12.6% (n=2187) underwent PCF. At 1 month following surgery, 47.7% of NOUs and 82% of OUs had a filled opioid prescription. Rates of prescription opioids declined significantly to 7.8% in NOUs versus 50.5% in OUs at 3 months, but plateaued at the 6- to 12-month postoperative period (NOU: 5.7%-6.7%, OU: 44.9%-46.9%). At 1 year, significantly higher narcotic prescription filling rates were observed in OUs compared with NOUs (45.3% vs. 6.3%, p<.001). Preoperative opioid use was a significant driver of 1-year narcotic use following ACF (odds ratio [OR]: 7.02, p<.001) and PCF (OR: 6.98, p<.001), along with younger age (≤50 years), history of drug dependence, and lower back pain. Over 50% of the patients used opioids before cervical arthrodesis. Postoperative opioid use fell dramatically during the first 3 months in NOU, but nearly half of the preoperative OUs will remain on narcotics at 1 year postoperatively. Our findings serve as a baseline in identifying patients at risk of chronic use and encourage discontinuation of opioids before cervical spine surgery.

The Opioid Crisis in Black Communities.

While much of the social and political attention surrounding the nationwide opioid epidemic has focused on the dramatic increase in overdose deaths among white, middle-class, suburban and rural users, the impact of the epidemic in Black communities has largely been unrecognized. Though rates of opioid use at the national scale are higher for whites than they are for Blacks, rates of increase in opioid deaths have been rising more steeply among Blacks (43%) than whites (22%) over the last five years. Moreover, the rate of opioid overdose deaths among Blacks already exceeds that of whites in several states. The lack of discussion of Black overdose deaths in the national opioid discourse further marginalizes Black people, and is highly consistent with a history of framing the addictions of people of color as deserving of criminal punishment, rather than worthy of medical treatment. This article argues that, because racial inequalities are embedded in American popular and political cultures as well as in medicine, the federal and state governments should develop more culturally targeted programs to benefit Black communities in the opioid crisis. Such programs include the use of faith-based organizations to deliver substance use prevention and treatment services, the inclusion of racial impact assessments in the implementation of drug policy proposals, and the formal consideration of Black people's interaction with the criminal justice system in designing treatment options.

A new postoperative pain management (intravenous acetaminophen: Acelio®) leads to enhanced recovery after esophagectomy: a propensity score-matched analysis.

To investigate the efficacy of postoperative scheduled intravenous acetaminophen to reduce the opioid use and enhance the recovery after esophagectomy. A propensity score-matched population was created using the 93 and 69 consecutive patients who underwent esophagectomy for esophageal cancer before and after the introduction of postoperative scheduled intravenous acetaminophen, and the short-term clinical outcomes were compared. Significant defervescence was demonstrated in the Acetaminophen group (A-group) compared with control group (C-group) during the perioperative period (p < 0.05), whereas no significant differences were observed in the postoperative inflammatory parameters. The incidence of postoperative complications was similar between the groups. The number of PCA pushes and the frequency of using other non-opioid analgesics were significantly smaller in the A-group than in the C-group (p < 0.05). Both daily and cumulative opioid uses were significantly smaller in the A-group than in the C-group (p < 0.05). The time to first flatus was significantly shorter in the A-group than in the C-group (p < 0.001). The day of first walking after surgery was significantly earlier in the A-group than in the C-group (1.0 versus 2.0 days, p = 0.003). The ICU stay (2.86 versus 3.61 days, p < 0.001) and the hospital stay (21.5 versus 26.0 days, p = 0.061) tended to be shorter in the A-group than in the C-group. Postoperative scheduled intravenous acetaminophen decreased the rate of opioid use without increasing the intensity of postoperative pain and may be a feasible new pain management option in the enhanced recovery after surgery protocol following esophagectomy.

Opioid utilization patterns among patients with cancer and noncancer pain.

194 Background: Opioids are used to manage moderate to severe pain in patients with cancer and non-cancer pain. Limited data exist comparing opioid utilization patterns between these two patient populations. Methods: This retrospective, commercial administrative claims database analysis (HealthCore Integrated Research Environment) investigated opioid use patterns, including opioid dose escalation, in adult patients with cancer-related (CP) and non-cancer-related pain (NCP). Adults (age ≥18 years) with at least one pharmacy claim for an opioid between July 1, 2006, and September 30, 2014, were identified (index date). Patients selected for analysis had to have continuous plan eligibility for 6 months pre- and 12 months post-index date and opioid use for at least 4 weeks. Patients with opioid use related to cancer pain were identified by a medical claim for a cancer diagnosis coded within 30 days prior to the index opioid date. Results: A total of 9,209 patients with CP and 409,703 patients with NCP were analyzed. Patients with CP were older than patients with NCP (mean [SD]: 62.6 [12.9] yrs vs. 49.3 [15.3] yrs); other demographics were similar between cohorts. The most common cancer diagnoses were breast, lung, and prostate. Hydrocodone was the most common opioid prescribed for both cohorts. Total mean (SD) days of opioid therapy were 167.1 (341.8) for CP and 196.6 (421.1) for NCP, with similar rates of opioid use for ≥1 year (10.6% for CP; 13.6% for NCP). Median index opioid doses were consistent between the cohorts (CP: 51.7 morphine-equivalent units (MEU); NCP: 45.0 MEU). Median post-index (after the first 30 days) opioid doses were also similar (CP: 55.8 MEU; NCP: 45.3 MEU). Post-index opioid dose reductions occurred in approximately one-third of both cohorts. Opioid dose escalations (up to dose doubling) occurred in 31.8% of CP and 28.3% of NCP patients. More patients died during the follow-up period in the CP cohort (24.1%) compared with the NCP cohort (0.02%). Conclusions: The use of opioids bears many similarities between patients with cancer pain and non-cancer pain, including clinically similar rates of chronic opioid utilization and dose escalation. This study was supported by AstraZeneca.

Opioid Use Following Total Hip Arthroplasty: Trends and Risk Factors for Prolonged Use

BackgroundThe purpose of this study is to answer the following questions: (1) What is the prevalence of opioid use prior to primary total hip arthroplasty (THA)? (2) What is the typical trend in opioid use following THA over the first post-operative year? (3) What are the risk factors for prolonged opioid use following primary THA? MethodsPrimary THA patients were identified in the Humana database from 2007 to 2015. Pre-operative and post-operative opioid use was measured by monthly prescription refill rates. Rates of opioid use were trended monthly for 1 year post-operatively and compared based on pre-operative opioid user (OU) status as well as other patient demographics and co-morbidities. ResultsIn total, 37,393 THA patients were analyzed and 14,309 patients (38.2%) were pre-operative opioid users (OUs). Pre-operative opioid use was the strongest predictor for prolonged opioid use following THA, with non-opioid users filling significantly less opioid prescriptions than OUs at every time point analyzed. Younger age, female sex, and all other diagnoses analyzed were found to significantly increase the rate of opioid refilling following THA throughout the entire post-operative year. ConclusionOver one-third of THA patients use opioids within 3 months prior to THA and this percentage has increased 6% during the years included in this study. Pre-operative opioid use was most predictive of increased refills of opioids following THA. These data provide an important baseline for opioid use trends following THA that can be used for future comparison while identifying risk factors for prolonged use that will be helpful to prescribers as we all work to decrease opioid use, misuse, and abuse.

Association of code status discussion with invasive procedures among advanced-stage cancer and noncancer patients.

BackgroundCode status discussion is associated with a decrease in invasive procedures among terminally ill cancer patients. We investigated the association between code status discussion on admission and incidence of invasive procedures, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and opioid use among inpatients with advanced stages of cancer and noncancer diseases.MethodsWe performed a retrospective cohort study in a single center, Ito Municipal Hospital, Japan. Participants were patients who were admitted to the Department of Internal Medicine between October 1, 2013 and August 30, 2015, with advanced-stage cancer and noncancer. We collected demographic data and inquired the presence or absence of code status discussion within 24 hours of admission and whether invasive procedures, including central venous catheter placement, intubation with mechanical ventilation, and CPR for cardiac arrest, and opioid treatment were performed. We investigated the factors associated with CPR events by using multivariate logistic regression analysis.ResultsAmong the total 232 patients, code status was discussed with 115 patients on admission, of which 114 (99.1%) patients had do-not-resuscitate (DNR) orders. The code status was not discussed with the remaining 117 patients on admission, of which 69 (59%) patients had subsequent code status discussion with resultant DNR orders. Code status discussion on admission decreased the incidence of central venous catheter placement, intubation with mechanical ventilation, and CPR in both cancer and noncancer patients. It tended to increase the rate of opioid use. Code status discussion on admission was the only factor associated with the decreased use of CPR (P<0.001, odds ratio =0.03, 95% CI =0.004–0.21), which was found by using multivariate logistic regression analysis.ConclusionCode status discussion on admission is associated with a decrease in invasive procedures and CPR in cancer and noncancer patients. Physicians should be educated about code status discussion to improve end-of-life care.

Opioid Epidemic Extends to Post-Surgical Patients

Opioid Epidemic Extends to Post-Surgical Patients

Surgical and Functional Outcomes After Multilevel Cervical Fusion for Degenerative Disc Disease Compared With Fusion for Radiculopathy: A Study of Workers' Compensation Population.

Retrospective cohort comparative study. To evaluate presurgical and surgical factors that affect return to work (RTW) status after multilevel cervical fusion, and to compare outcomes after multilevel cervical fusion for degenerative disc disease (DDD) versus radiculopathy. Cervical fusion provides more than 90% of symptomatic relief for radiculopathy and myelopathy. However, cervical fusion for DDD without radiculopathy is considered controversial. In addition, multilevel fusion is associated with poorer surgical outcomes with increased levels fused. Data of cervical comorbidities was collected from Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation for subjects with work-related injuries. The study population included subjects who underwent multilevel cervical fusion. Patients with radiculopathy or DDD were identified. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify factors that affect RTW status. Surgical and functional outcomes were compared between groups. Stable RTW status within 3 years after multilevel cervical fusion was negatively affected by: fusion for DDD, age > 55 years, preoperative opioid use, initial psychological evaluation before surgery, injury-to-surgery > 2 years and instrumentation.DDD group had lower rate of achieving stable RTW status (P= 0.0001) and RTW within 1 year of surgery (P= 0.0003) compared with radiculopathy group. DDD patients were less likely to have a stable RTW status [odds ratio, OR = 0.63 (0.50-0.79)] or RTW within 1 year after surgery [OR = 0.65 (0.52-0.82)].DDD group had higher rate of opioid use (P= 0.001), and higher rate of disability after surgery (P= 0.002). Multiple detriments affect stable RTW status after multilevel cervical fusion including DDD. DDD without radiculopathy was associated with lower RTW rates, less likelihood to return to work, higher disability, and higher opioid use after surgery. Multilevel cervical fusion for DDD may be counterproductive. Future studies should investigate further treatment options of DDD, and optimize patient selection criteria for surgical intervention. 3.

Opioid Use After Total Knee Arthroplasty: Trends and Risk Factors for Prolonged Use

BackgroundThe United States is in the midst of an opioid epidemic. Little is known about perioperative opioid use for total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The purpose of this study was to identify rates of preoperative opioid use, evaluate postoperative trends and identify risk factors for prolonged use after TKA. MethodsPatients who underwent primary TKA from 2007-2014 were identified within the Humana database. Postoperative opioid use was measured by monthly prescription refill rates. A preoperative opioid user (OU) was defined by history of opioid prescription within 3 months prior to TKA and a non-opioid user (NOU) was defined by no history of prior opioid use. Rates of opioid use were trended monthly for one year postoperatively for all cohorts. Results73,959 TKA patients were analyzed and 23,532 patients (31.2%) were OU. OU increased from 30.1% in 2007 to 39.3% in 2014 (P < .001). Preoperative opioid use was the strongest predictor for prolonged opioid use following TKA, with OU filling significantly more opioid prescriptions than NOU at every time point analyzed. Younger age, female sex and other intrinsic factors were found to significantly increase the rate of opioid refilling following TKA throughout the postoperative year. ConclusionApproximately one-third of TKA patients use opioids within 3 months prior to surgery and this percentage has increased over 9% during the years included in this study. Preoperative opioid use was most predictive of increased refills of opioids following TKA. However, other intrinsic patient characteristics were also predictive of prolonged opioid use.

High-Dose Opioid Prescribing and Opioid-Related Hospitalization: A Population-Based Study.

AimsTo examine the impact of national clinical practice guidelines and provincial drug policy interventions on prevalence of high-dose opioid prescribing and rates of hospitalization for opioid toxicity.DesignInterventional time-series analysis.SettingOntario, Canada, from 2003 to 2014.ParticipantsOntario Drug Benefit (ODB) beneficiaries aged 15 to 64 years from 2003 to 2014.InterventionsPublication of Canadian clinical practice guidelines for use of opioids in chronic non-cancer pain (May 2010) and implementation of Ontario’s Narcotics Safety and Awareness Act (NSAA; November 2011).MeasurementsThree outcomes were explored: the rate of opioid use among ODB beneficiaries, the prevalence of opioid prescriptions exceeding 200 mg and 400 mg morphine equivalents per day, and rates of opioid-related emergency department visits and hospital admissions.FindingsOver the 12 year study period, the rate of opioid use declined 15.2%, from 2764 to 2342 users per 10,000 ODB eligible persons. The rate of opioid use was significantly impacted by the Canadian clinical practice guidelines (p-value = .03) which led to a decline in use, but no impact was observed by the enactment of the NSAA (p-value = .43). Among opioid users, the prevalence of high-dose prescribing doubled (from 4.2% to 8.7%) over the study period. By 2014, 40.9% of recipients of long-acting opioids exceeded daily doses of 200 mg morphine or equivalent, including 55.8% of long-acting oxycodone users and 76.3% of transdermal fentanyl users. Moreover, in the last period, 18.7% of long-acting opioid users exceeded daily doses of 400 mg morphine or equivalent. Rates of opioid-related emergency department visits and hospital admissions increased 55.0% over the study period from 9.0 to 14.0 per 10,000 ODB beneficiaries from 2003 to 2013. This rate was not significantly impacted by the Canadian clinical practice guidelines (p-value = .68) or enactment of the NSAA (p-value = .59).ConclusionsAlthough the Canadian clinical practice guidelines for use of opioids in chronic non-cancer pain led to a decline in opioid prescribing rates among ODB beneficiaries these guidelines and subsequent Ontario legislation did not result in a significant change in rates of opioid-related hospitalizations. Given the prevalence of high dose opioid prescribing in this population, this suggests that improved strategies and programs for the safe prescribing of long-acting opioids are needed.

Cigarette Smoking Status and Receipt of an Opioid Prescription Among Veterans of Recent Wars.

Cigarette smokers seeking treatment for chronic pain have higher rates of opioid use than nonsmokers. This study aims to examine whether veterans of Operations Enduring Freedom/Iraqi Freedom/New Dawn (OEF/OIF/OND) who smoke are more likely to receive an opioid prescription than nonsmokers, adjusting for current pain intensity. Cross-sectional analysis of a cohort study of OEF/OIF/OND veterans who had at least one visit to a Veterans Health Administration primary care clinic between 2001 and 2012. Smoking status was defined as current, former, and never. Current pain intensity (+/- 30 days of smoking status), based on the 0-10 numeric rating scale, was categorized as no pain/mild (0-3) and moderate/severe (4-10). Opioid receipt was defined as at least one prescription filled +/- 30 days of smoking status. We identified 406,954 OEF/OIF/OND veterans: The mean age was 30 years, 12.5% were women (n = 50,988), 66.3% reported no pain or mild pain intensity, 33.7% reported moderate or severe pain intensity, 37.2% were current smokers, and 16% were former smokers. Overall, 33,960 (8.3%) veterans received one or more opioid prescription. Current smoking (odds ratio [OR] = 1.56, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.52-1.61) and former smoking (OR = 1.27, 95% CI = 1.22-1.32) were associated with a higher likelihood of receipt of an opioid prescription compared with never smoking, after controlling for other covariates. We found an association between smoking status and receipt of an opioid prescription. The effect was stronger for current smokers than former smokers, highlighting the need to determine whether smoking cessation is associated with a reduction in opioid use among veterans.

House Members Consider Best Options for Treatment, Prevention of Opioid Abuse

Addiction experts testify before a U.S. House Energy and Commerce subcommittee on strategies that could lead to reduced rates of opioid use in the United States.

Maternal Substance Use and Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome: A Descriptive Study.

Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS) is one of the primary negative effects of substance use during pregnancy. The exact statistics regarding NAS and substance use during pregnancy are difficult to determine due to underreporting, especially in the context of pregnancy. Similarly, little is known regarding whether the severity of NAS differs based on substance exposure. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of NAS and types of substance use during pregnancy, and determine whether the presentation of NAS symptoms differ based on the type of substance. A retrospective chart review was conducted over a one year period at a tertiary care hospital. One hundred thirty-one mother-infant pairs met the inclusion criteria of documented NAS scores using the Modified Finnegan Scoring Tool and substance use during pregnancy. The results identified a high prevalence of NAS (8.7 %) primarily as a result of exposure to illicit opioids and/or to methadone as the treatment for opioid addiction. In addition, more than half the women on methadone maintenance treatment continued to use additional substances primarily opiates. Infants who were exposed to methadone experienced more severe NAS compared to infants not exposed to methadone including higher peak scores, prolonged NAS treatment, and length of stay. Given the severity of symptoms of the methadone exposed infants and the high rate of opioid use with methadone treatment, evidence-based interventions are required to decrease the negative effects of NAS.

Association between hepatitis C virus and opioid use while in buprenorphine treatment: preliminary findings

Background: The prevalence of hepatitis-C-virus (HCV) infections is high among opioid-dependent individuals. Prior research on the simultaneous treatment of both conditions has primarily assessed success as it pertains to HCV. However, it has been noted that favorable substance use therapy outcomes may improve the likelihood of HCV-treatment initiation and success. Therefore, current guidelines for the treatment of HCV among illicit drug users suggest that treatment for addiction be given the highest priority. Objectives: To determine whether opioid-dependent participants in a clinical trial of buprenorphine-treatment tapering regimens, who tested positive for the HCV antibody, experienced significantly different levels of opioid abstinence than those not infected. Methods: Data came from the National Drug Abuse Treatment Clinical Trial Network study 0003. 516 eligible opioid-dependent participants were randomized to either a 7-day or 28-day buprenorphine tapering schedule following a 4-week buprenorphine stabilization period. Generalized estimating equations were used to test the research question. Results: Participants with the HCV antibody were significantly less likely to submit opioid-negative urine analyses during and/or immediately following active treatment [OR = 0.69; CI = 0.51–0.93], indicating a higher rate of opioid use among this group. Conclusion: Individualized opioid-dependence treatment strategies may be required for opioid-dependent individuals who test positive for the HCV antibody in order to ensure resources for both opioid-dependence and HCV therapies are used efficiently.

A preliminary randomized controlled trial of a distress tolerance treatment for opioid dependent persons initiating buprenorphine

BackgroundBuprenorphine opioid agonist treatment (OAT) has established efficacy for treating opioid dependency but early relapse rates are high and are often associated with withdrawal-related or emotional distress. MethodsTo determine whether a novel distress tolerance (DT) intervention during buprenorphine initiation decreases opioid relapse, we conducted a preliminary randomized controlled trial with opioid-dependent outpatients. Participants received buprenorphine-naloxone induction and 3-months of maintenance buprenorphine plus seven, 50-min manualized, individual sessions (DT vs. health education (HE) control) over a 28-day period, linked to clinician medication dosing visits, and beginning 2 days prior to buprenorphine induction. Primary outcomes included use of illicit opioids (positive defined as any self-reported use in the prior 28 days or detected by urine toxicology) and treatment drop out. ResultsAmong 49 participants, the mean age was 41 years, 65.3% were male. Persons randomized to DT had lower rates of opioid use at all three monthly assessments, and at 3-months, 72% of HE participants were opioid positive compared with 62.5% of DT participants. Rates of dropout were 24% and 25% in the HE and DT arms, respectively. ConclusionsThis distress tolerance treatment produced a small, but not statistically significant reduction in opioid use during the first three months of treatment although no differences were found in drop-out rates between conditions. If replicated in a larger study, DT could offer clinicians a useful behavioral treatment to complement the effects of buprenorphine.

A Process to Self-Audit Opioid Prescribing Practices in Skilled Nursing Facility Patients

Background: Opioid medications are associated with adverse events, particularly falls and consequent injury, in elders, including those in the long term care setting. However, uncontrolled pain is also a major issue in long term care. A single, 182-bed skilled nursing facility associated with a tertiary academic medical center. All long-term residents (short-term rehabilitation residents were excluded) who resided at the skilled nursing facility between July 1st and September 30th, 2013. Objective/Aim: To describe a quick and reproducible process by which long term care providers can self-audit their opioid prescribing practices in long term care patients. Quality Improvement Methods: Data regarding individual provider opioid prescribing practices in Medicare Part D patients, reported as a percentage (frequency), was obtained from the ProPublica website (propublica.org). Review of the skilled nursing facility’s electronic medical record (Point Click Care) was completed to determine frequency of opioid use by the same providers in their long term care patients. The two data sets were compared to determine correlation. Results: 38.7% (36/93) of long term care patients examined were prescribed at least one opioid medication. Rates of opioid use in long term care patients per provider ranged from 36.7% to 42.4%. Rates of opioid use in Medicare Part D patients for the same providers ranged from 11% to 13%, with a ratio of opioid prescription frequency in long term care versus Medicare Part D patients of approximately 3:1 for all providers. Conclusion: Opioid prescribing frequency differs significantly based on the patient population considered, with frequency of opioid use significantly higher in long term care versus all Medicare Part D patients. In this small study, frequency of opioid use in the long term care setting was approximately three times that in all Medicare Part D patients, and this ratio was consistent across all prescribers examined. If confirmed in a larger study, this would indicate that ProPublica data represents a quick, efficient metric by which providers can estimate their frequency of opioid use in long term care patients, which is not readily accomplished with many current long term care medical records. Increased awareness of one’s opioid prescribing practices may lead to more thoughtful opioid use, with improved patient quality and safety. Author Disclosures: All authors have stated there are no financial disclosures to be made that are pertinent to this abstract.

Changes in Opioid Prescribing for Washington Workers' Compensation Claimants After Implementation of an Opioid Dosing Guideline for Chronic Noncancer Pain: 2004 to 2010

An opioid overdose epidemic emerged in the United States following increased opioid prescribing for chronic noncancer pain. In 2007, Washington State agencies implemented an opioid dosing guideline on safe prescribing for chronic noncancer pain. The objective of this population-based observational study was to evaluate opioid use and dosing before and after guideline implementation. We identified 161,283 workers aged 18 to 64 years with ≥1 opioid prescriptions in Washington Workers' Compensation, April 1, 2004, to December 31, 2010. Prevalence and incidence rates of opioid use were assessed. We compared pre- and postguideline chronic and high-dose use (≥120 mg/d) among incident users. The mean monthly prevalence of opioid use declined by 25.6% between 2004 (14.4%) and 2010 (10.7%). Fewer incident users went on to chronic opioid therapy in the postguideline period (4.7%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 4.5–5.0%) than in the preguideline period (6.3%; 95% CI, 6.1–6.6%). Compared with preguideline incident users, postguideline incident users were 35% less likely to receive high doses (adjusted odds ratio = .65; 95% CI, .59–.71). Although the extent to which decreases were due to the guidelines is uncertain, to our knowledge, this is the first report of significant decreases in chronic and high-dose prescription opioid use among incident users. PerspectiveEvidence-based strategies for opioid risk management are needed to help abate the epidemic of opioid-related morbidity and mortality. The study findings suggest that opioid dosing guidelines that specify a “yellow flag” dosing threshold may be a useful tool in preventing escalation of doses into ranges associated with increased mortality risk.