BACKGROUND Despite increased attention to dentists' roles in curbing opioid misuse, abuse, and diversion, information regarding prescribing practices and the frequency of multiple concurrent opioid prescriptions among dental patients is limited. METHODS The authors reviewed South Carolina prescription drug monitoring program data representing dispensed medication for patients prescribed at le...

BACKGROUND Prescription drug misuse and abuse has reached epidemic levels in the U.S., and stands as a leading cause of death. As the primary gatekeepers to the medications contributing to this epidemic, it is critical to understand the views of licensed health care professionals. OBJECTIVE In this study, we examine health care professionals' concern regarding prescription drug abuse in their...

Opioid analgesics provide effective treatment for noncancer pain, but many physicians have concerns about adverse effects, tolerance, and addiction. Misuse of opioids is prominent in patients with chronic back pain and early recognition of misuse risk could help physicians offer adequate patient care while implementing appropriate levels of monitoring to reduce aberrant drug-related behaviors. ...

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES There has been a limited focus on prescription drug abuse among women in the country. Choice of psychoactive substance, reasons for initiation and co-occurring disorders have been found to be different among men and women. The current study was aimed at studying the profile of female patients seeking in-patient treatment for prescription drug use over a period of five ye...

Stimulants are effective in treating attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Psychiatrist Charles Bradley first made this discovery 1937 when he found that children treated with amphetamines showed improvements school performance and behavior. Between 1995 2008, stimulants to treat ADHD increased six-fold among American adults adolescents at an annual rate of 6.5%. without a prescripti...

BACKGROUND Substitute prescribing has increased in Scotland, as in the rest of the UK. Both GPs and pharmacists are becoming increasingly involved in service provision for drug misusers, but anecdotal evidence has suggested considerable variation in prescribing and dispensing practice. OBJECTIVE We aimed to gain baseline data on (i) current prescribing practice by medical practitioners and dr...

OBJECTIVE We examined the prevalence and correlates of prescription drug misuse (PDM) in a population-based sample of adults from Alberta. METHODS Data were collected from 3511 adults in Alberta aged 18 years and older in 2002 using a computer-aided telephone survey; the survey response rate was 57.4%. RESULTS The prevalence of 12-month PDM in Alberta was 8.2% in 2002. Opiates were the most...

Today, opiate-based prescription painkillers account for significant morbidity and mortality in the U.S. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, prescription painkiller overdose has reached epidemic proportions over the past decade. This article explores the focus on inadequate treatment of pain in the U.S. and the subsequent rise of prescription painkiller abuse, misuse, a...

background and purpose: rational use of drugs remains a problem in iran. polypharmacy, overuse of antibiotic, misuse and overuse of injections, short consulting time and poor patient compliance are common patterns of irrational use of drugs in eastern azarbydjan - iran. concerning the promotion of rational use of drugs, this study aimed the effect of educational intervention as interactive grou...

BACKGROUND Abuse of prescription drugs, particularly opioid analgesics, has become a major source of injury mortality and morbidity in the United States. To prevent the diversion and misuse of controlled substances, many states have implemented prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs). This study assessed the impact of state PDMPs on drug overdose mortality. METHODS We analyzed demograph...