The epidemiologic association between opioid prescribing, non-medical use, and emergency department visits

Introduction: Since the 1990s prescriptions for and the non-medical use of opioids have increased. This study examines associations between opioid prescribing, non-medical use, and emergency department(ED) visits. Methods: Data were abstracted from four federally sponsored, nationally-representative, annual surveys (National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey, National Survey on Drug Use and Health, and Drug Abuse Warning Network). Results: For hydrocodone and oxycodone, associations between prescribing and non-medical use, and prescribing and ED visits were statistically significant (p-values < 0.04) and strongly associated (correlation coefficient range 0.73 to 0.87). Male gender, White race, and age 35 were all statistically significant (p-values < 0.0001) predictors of receiving a hydrocodone or oxycodone-containing prescription. Conclusion: The increased number of prescriptions written for hydrocodone and oxycodone between 1995 and 2004 was associated with similar increases in non-medical use and the number of ED visits during this time period.