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The effect of a potentially tamper-resistant oxycodone formulation on opioid use and harm: main findings of the National Opioid Medications Abuse Deterrence (NOMAD) study
Citation
Larance, B and Dobbins, T and Peacock, A and Ali, R and Bruno, R and Lintzeris, N and Farrell, M and Degenhardt, L, The effect of a potentially tamper-resistant oxycodone formulation on opioid use and harm: main findings of the National Opioid Medications Abuse Deterrence (NOMAD) study, The Lancet Psychiatry, 5, (2) pp. 155-166. ISSN 2215-0366 (2018) [Refereed Article]
Copyright Statement
Copyright 2018 Elsevier Ltd.
DOI: doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(18)30003-8
Abstract
Background: Escalation of pharmaceutical opioid use and harm in North America is well-documented, with similar issues emerging in Australia. One response is the development of tamper-resistant formulations of opioids. A potentially tamper-resistant formulation of controlled-release oxycodone was introduced in Australia in April, 2014, rapidly replacing the non-tamper-resistant formulation. Our study is the most systematic and comprehensive examination of the impact of a new opioid formulation to date, assessing the effect of tamper-resistant formulation of controlled-release oxycodone on population-level opioid use and opioid-related harm (ie, overdose, help-seeking, and treatment-seeking); and opioid use, tampering, and preference for the tamper-resistant formulation of controlled release oxycodone compared with other drugs or formulations among sentinel populations likely to tamper with pharmaceutical opioids.
Methods: We conducted interrupted time-series analyses of opioid sales data and multiple routinely collected health datasets, followed up a cohort of people who tamper with pharmaceutical opioids before and after the introduction of the tamper-resistant formulation of controlled-release oxycodone, and analysed annual surveys of people who inject drugs. Data were collected from several Australian states: New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania. Meta-analyses (weighted Z tests) were conducted to synthesise across data sources providing evidence for a given indicator.
Findings: At the population level, we found reduced sales of higher strengths of controlled-release oxycodone and increased sales of other oxycodone formulations. No significant effect was observed among population-level indicators of opioid overdose, or help or treatment-seeking. Mortality data were not available for inclusion at the time of our study. Meta-analyses across sentinel populations (ie, prospective cohort, surveys of people who inject drugs, and clients of supervised injecting facilities or needle and syringe programmes) indicated reduced controlled-release oxycodone use via tampering (mainly injection), with no evidence of switching to heroin or other drug use.
Interpretation: This formulation of controlled-release oxycodone reduced tampering with pharmaceutical opioids among people who inject drugs, but did not affect population-level opioid use or harm.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
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Keywords: | pharmaceutical opioid, tampering, opioid misuse |
Research Division: | Health Sciences |
Research Group: | Health services and systems |
Research Field: | Health services and systems not elsewhere classified |
Objective Division: | Health |
Objective Group: | Public health (excl. specific population health) |
Objective Field: | Public health (excl. specific population health) not elsewhere classified |
UTAS Author: | Peacock, A (Miss Amy Peacock) |
UTAS Author: | Bruno, R (Associate Professor Raimondo Bruno) |
ID Code: | 127791 |
Year Published: | 2018 |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 18 |
Deposited By: | Psychology |
Deposited On: | 2018-08-15 |
Last Modified: | 2019-04-15 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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