Findings from the Drug Abuse Warning Network

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Findings from theDrug Abuse Warning Network

• Immediate and Sustained Release Opioid Analgesics

Judy K. Ball, Ph.D., M.P.A. Office of Applied Stu
dies, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration
9 September 2003
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Emergency Departments

• Stratified probability sample
• Short-term, general, non-Federal hospitals
  operating 24-hour emergency departments
  
• Representative estimates for coterminous U.S.
• 437 hospitals (80) participated in 2002

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DAWN Cases

• Age 6-97 treated in ED
• ED visit related to drug abuse
• Abuse defined by patients motive for drug use
• Dependence
• Psychic effects
• Suicide attempt/gesture

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Drug Detail in DAWN

• Illicit, prescription, OTC drugs
• Specificity depends on medical record
• Brand (trade) names MSContin
• Chemical names morphine sulfate
• Generic names morphine
• Classes opiates
• Street names
• Multiple drugs per visit drug mentions

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Mentions of Selected Drugs inED Visits Related
to Drug Abuse
Source Drug Abuse Warning Network
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ED Mentions of Opiates/Opioids, 2002
Hydrocodone
Unnamed
Oxycodone
All others
Morphine 2,775
Fentanyl 1,506
Source Drug Abuse Warning Network
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Narcotic Analgesics, by Type
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Unnamed Opiates, ED Mentions
Source Drug Abuse Warning Network
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Hydrocodone, ED Mentions
Source Drug Abuse Warning Network
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Hydromorphone, ED Mentions
Source Drug Abuse Warning Network
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Fentanyl, ED Mentions
Source Drug Abuse Warning Network
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Morphine, ED Mentions
Source Drug Abuse Warning Network
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Oxycodone, ED Mentions
Source Drug Abuse Warning Network
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Oxycodone, ED Mentions
Source Drug Abuse Warning Network
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Oxycodone, ED Mentions
Source Drug Abuse Warning Network
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Oxycodone, ED Mentions
Source Drug Abuse Warning Network
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Oxycodone ED Mentions, 1997-2002
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Drugs in Combination, 2002
Source Drug Abuse Warning Network
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Limitations of DAWN

• Reportable cases of drug abuse, based on
  patients intent
  
• Variable reporting of nonspecific terms
• Cannot distinguish diversion vs. abuse with
  legitimate prescriptions
  
• No information on health