There is an epidemic of prescription drug abuse in the United States, which has created
an increased burden on clinical toxicology laboratories and those who oversee drug
testing. According to the 2009 report of the Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN), there
were approximately 4.5 million drug-related visits to the emergency department, and
the report revealed that more than 50% of the visits involved the nonmedical use of
pharmaceuticals.
1
In this report, the nonmedical use of pharmaceuticals included (1) taking more than
the prescribed dose of a prescription pharmaceutical, (2) taking more than the recommended
dose of an over-the-counter pharmaceutical or supplement, (3) taking a pharmaceutical
prescribed for another individual, (4) deliberate poisoning with a pharmaceutical
by another person, and (5) documented misuse or abuse of a prescription drug, an over-the-counter
pharmaceutical, or a dietary supplement.
U.S.Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality
The DAWN Report: highlights of the 2009 Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) findings on drug-related emergency department visits.
The DAWN Report: highlights of the 2009 Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) findings on drug-related emergency department visits.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration,
Rockville (MD)2010
KEY POINTS
- •Opioid use is increasing producing an epidemic of unintentional drug poisoning deaths.
- •Clinical guidelines for managing patients on chronic opioid (noncancer) pain therapy have been developed.
- •There has been an increase in drug testing associated with chronic pain therapy and laboratories have been asked to assist in identifying compliant patients.
- •Proper interpretation of positive/negative opiate results must take into consideration the metabolic pathways of opiates and assay limitations.
- •Laboratorians are ready to help with testing strategies and interpretation of results.
Keywords
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References
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Footnotes
The authors have nothing to disclose.
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© 2012 Elsevier Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
