186576 Patterns and Trends of Place-based Disparities in Non-medical Uses of Opiates and Synthetics and Prescription-type of Psychotherapeutics in the US

Tuesday, October 28, 2008: 5:24 PM

Zhiwei Zhang, PhD , NORC, Bethesda, MD
Alycia Infante, MPA , NORC, Bethesda, MD
Michael Meit, MA, MPH , NORC, Bethesda, MD
Gregory Bischak, PhD , Appalachian Regional Commission, Washington, DC
Ned English, MA , NORC, Chicago, IL
     
This study presents comparative national and Appalachian regional analyses on the extent of non-medical use of opiates and synthetics and prescription-type of psychotherapeutics, drawing data from pooled data based on national household surveys of substance abuse in 2002-2005 and treatment episode data on admissions to substance abuse specialty treatment facilities in 2000-2004. We found that the rates of the uses of opiates and synthetics as primary substances in admissions to specialty treatment are higher in Appalachia than the rest of the nation, especially in coal-mining areas; the trend is also rising across the nation, but is at a faster pace in Appalachia overall, and even faster in Appalachian coal mining areas in particular. We also found significant higher rates of nonmedical uses of psychotherapeutics among Appalachian adolescents than adolescents in the rest of nation in the general household population. Patterns and trends of place-based disparities and the need for further assessment of the implications on treatment system and cost-effective policies are discussed.

Learning Objectives:
1. Learn the evidenced-based systematic analytic findings on topics of public health importance and news media interests 2. Gain in-depth understanding of extent, trend, and regional and subregional variations of non-medical uses of opiates and prescription-type of drugs including Oxycodone and painkillers across sub-populations. 3. Explore methods of effective implementation of intervetions and policy options.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Being a Ph.D level Senior Research Scientist in one of the largest social science research firms for more than 10 years, I was the Principle Investigator of the study
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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