Unintentional Prescription Opioid Deaths in the Oklahoma Medicaid Population
Reports suggest that the Medicaid population is uniquely vulnerable to opioid overdose; however, little is known about patterns of pharmacy and medical utilization prior to death in this population. This study was designed to describe demographic and clinical characteristics in the year prior to overdose for Oklahoma’s Medicaid members who died of unintentional opioid prescription drug poisoning from 2012 to 2016. An additional objective was to identify risk factors associated with fatal, unintentional prescription opioid overdose for this population.
Researchers linked Oklahoma Medicaid’s pharmacy and claims data with medical examiner (ME) data for unintentional prescription overdose deaths and compared cases (individuals who were Medicaid-eligible during the year of death and had at least one prescription opioid claim between January 2012 and June 2016) with controls (other Medicaid members with at least one opioid prescription claim). Controls were matched 3:1 to cases with opioid exposure using a propensity score model.
Study results:
- Nearly half of Oklahoma Medicaid members who had a fatal, unintentional prescription opioid overdose did not have an opioid prescription claim.
- Similar to controls, cases averaged 44.5 (±11.2) years of age, 64.2% were female, and 80.7% self-identified as white.
- The most common opioids involved in fatalities were oxycodone (36.5%), hydrocodone (35.5%), morphine (16.5%), methadone (12.5%), and fentanyl (11.2%).
- Concomitant exposure to opioids and benzodiazepines was prevalent in 70.4% of cases compared to 35.9% of controls (p<0.05).
- Mental health disorders were also more common among cases: 83.2% versus 54.5% among controls (p<0.05).
- The most common chronic pain types were neck/joint pain (26.4% controls; 32.4% cases; p<0.05) and low back pain (26.6% controls; 43.6% cases; p<0.05).
“Studies like these help to deepen our understanding of affected and at-risk populations, factors that may contribute to abuse, misuse, and addiction, as well as the circumstances through which individuals are securing medicines for illicit use. These insights are critically important in furthering our efforts to design effective prevention and intervention strategies,” said Monica Kwarcinski, PharmD, Head of Medical Affairs, Purdue Pharma. “We are committed to advancing our work with researchers and community partners to address this significant public health epidemic while continuing to ensure that appropriate patients have access to FDA-approved medications.”
Filed under: General Problems
So here’s what I don’t understand, why is it they’re dying is it because they didn’t take them as prescribed or they were prescribed an excessive amount ? If they were abusing their medicine then they died knowing the risks. If they were over prescribed how come they didn’t speak up and say hey this is too much, or hmm maybe take less?
You would think with all the labels slapped on a bottle of narcotics about driving machinery, take as directed, and do not take with alcohol and so forth, we are accepting the responsibility for whatever happens. Violating those warnings means you are well aware of what happens and therefore the responsibility lies solely with the patient.
It’s about responsibility for our actions, instead we are being held accountable and paying the price for those that abuse medications and pay the ultimate price. If it’s a matter of being over medicated, again, our responsibility to take less than prescribed. No one’s gonna lose their pain pills for taking less than directed. So really if you think about it, it’s that simple. It’s about accountability. Why we are being forced to suffer for those that died abusing mixing or using illegal narcotics is just retarded. (I don’t typically use that word, its not pc, but it applies) Those who’ve died because they took their prescribed meds as directed (lets see those statistics) and dropped dead on the first dose , the physician is at fault. Things like height and weight need to be considered when prescribing drugs and if anyone has died in a situation such as that then the prescriber needs to be held accountable. Why can’t our government see this? Most of us, who are fortunate enough to get narcotics still (not me I can’t get shit and I am crazy insane from pain seriously) you are so lucky. I have never been over prescribed, never abused my rx but I’m high risk because of my history. I never had the trouble in California I have had since moving to Spokane. My honey is waiting to hear from hr about a great opportunity for work closer time Seattle and closer to better doctors who don’t give 2 craps about the illegal drugs I use to do a decade ago. My addiction to illegal drugs didnt begin because I had taken pain pills for legitimate pain, and I find that those who use that as an excuse area lying to themselves. My addiction began because I was soul sick from my entire life leading up to it. I, myself, took myself thru long term live in drug treatment rehab and have had years of therapy to process those things that led me in the wrong direction. I can honestly say I have never thought or gotten high on prescribed meds, even the idea of trying to get high on pain pills seems laughable to me. If i wanted my misery back i certainly wouldn’t choose pain pills, how boring. Nope I’d go cook up a big bag of free base cocaine and slam heroin. Anyone abusing their meds are not doing it for pain relief, they are abusing them to get high period point blank, if you are taking more than directed and its not working you don’t just take it upon yourself to up your dose. No. You make an appt wth your provider and say something like these pills are not working for me at all and get something that does work.
It’s that damn simple.