Nonprescription use of pain relievers by middle-aged and elderly community-living adults: National Survey on Drug Use and Health.
Abstract
To estimate the frequency, distribution, and correlates of nonprescription use of
pain relievers by middle-aged and elderly persons in the United States.Cross-sectional
data analysis of a national community survey.The 2005 and 2006 National Surveys on
Drug Use and Health.Ten thousand nine hundred fifty-three respondents aged 50 and
older (6,717 aged 50-64 and 4,236 aged > or = 65).Social and demographic variables,
detailed assessment of nonprescription use (and abuse) of prescription pain relievers
(e.g., acetaminophen with codeine, morphine), substance use, major depression, self-reported
medical illnesses, and self-rated health.A small proportion of the sample (1.4%) reported
nonprescription use of prescription pain relievers during the previous year. Combinations
of acetaminophen and hydrocodone or propoxyphene were the most commonly used drugs.
Use was associated with younger age (odds ratio (OR)=2.39, 95% confidence interval
(CI)=1.31-4.36), American Indian and Alaska native (OR=8.78, 95% CI=2.50-30.85), and
use of marijuana (OR=7.07, 95% CI=3.99-12.53). Fewer than 10% of nonprescription users
were abusing these medications or dependent upon them.In a representative sample of
middle-aged and older adults, nonprescription use of prescription pain relievers is
relatively uncommon, but the much higher use by middle-aged adults suggests that,
as this cohort ages, the problem may increase in elderly people.
Type
Journal articleSubject
HumansPain
Substance-Related Disorders
Analgesics
Prevalence
Logistic Models
Risk Factors
Cross-Sectional Studies
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Middle Aged
United States
Female
Male
Interviews as Topic
Nonprescription Drugs
Surveys and Questionnaires
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https://hdl.handle.net/10161/20005Published Version (Please cite this version)
10.1111/j.1532-5415.2009.02306.xPublication Info
Blazer, Dan G; & Wu, Li-Tzy (2009). Nonprescription use of pain relievers by middle-aged and elderly community-living
adults: National Survey on Drug Use and Health. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 57(7). pp. 1252-1257. 10.1111/j.1532-5415.2009.02306.x. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10161/20005.This is constructed from limited available data and may be imprecise. To cite this
article, please review & use the official citation provided by the journal.
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Show full item recordScholars@Duke
Daniel German Blazer
J. P. Gibbons Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry
I am currently semi-retired. Most of my recent work has been focused on roles with
the National Academy of Medicine (former Institute of Medicine). I have chaired three
committees during the past four years, one on the mental health and substance use workforce,
one on cognitive aging, and one on hearing loss in adults. I currently also chair
the Board on the Health of Select Populations for the National Academies. In the past
I have been PI on a number of research
Li-Tzy Wu
Professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Education/Training: Pre- and post-doctoral training in mental health service research,
psychiatric epidemiology (NIMH T32), and addiction epidemiology (NIDA T32) from Johns
Hopkins University School of Public Health (Maryland); Fellow of the NIH Summer Institute
on the Design and Conduct of Randomized Clinical Trials.Director: Duke Community Based
Substance Use Disorder Research Program.Research interests: COVID-19, Opioid misuse,
Opioid overdose, Opioid use disorder
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