Characterization of adolescent prescription drug abuse and misuse using the Researched Abuse Diversion and Addiction-related Surveillance (RADARS(®)) System. J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry 2013 Feb;52(2):196-204.e2
Date
01/30/2013Pubmed ID
23357446Pubmed Central ID
PMC3891924DOI
10.1016/j.jaac.2012.11.014Scopus ID
2-s2.0-84872963312 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 77 CitationsAbstract
OBJECTIVE: To describe the characteristics and health effects of adolescent (age 13-19 years) prescription drug abuse and misuse using the Researched Abuse Diversion and Addiction-Related Surveillance (RADARS(®)) System.
METHOD: Secondary analysis of data collected from RADARS System participating poison centers was performed. Data for all intentional exposures from 2007 through 2009 were used to describe adolescent prescription opioid (oxycodone, fentanyl, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, morphine, methadone, buprenorphine, and tramadol) and stimulant (methylphenidate and amphetamines) exposures.
RESULTS: A total of 16,209 intentional adolescent exposures to prescription drugs were identified, 68% to opioids and 32% to stimulants. The mean age was 16.6 years (SD ± 1.7 years). Slightly more than half (52.4%) of drug mentions involved females. The five most frequently misused or abused drugs were hydrocodone (32%), amphetamines (18%), oxycodone (15%), methylphenidate (14%), and tramadol (11%). Of all exposures, 38% were classified as suspected suicidal. Of adolescents who intentionally exposed themselves to prescription drugs, 30% were treated in a health care facility, 2,792 of whom were admitted to the hospital, including 1,293 to the intensive care unit. A total of 17.2% of intentional exposures were associated with no effect, 38.9% minor effects, 23.3% moderate effects, 3.6% major effects, and 0.1% were associated with death. Oxycodone and methadone were associated with the most deaths. No deaths were associated with exposures to stimulants.
CONCLUSIONS: Prescription drug misuse and abuse poses an important health problem and results in thousands of hospitalizations of adolescents per year. Further work is needed to develop focused interventions and educational programs to prevent prescription drug abuse and misuse by adolescents.
Author List
Zosel A, Bartelson BB, Bailey E, Lowenstein S, Dart RAuthor
Amy Elizabeth Zosel MD Associate Professor in the Emergency Medicine department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdolescentAnalgesics, Opioid
Behavior, Addictive
Central Nervous System Stimulants
Drug and Narcotic Control
Female
Health Information Systems
Humans
Male
Poison Control Centers
Practice Patterns, Physicians'
Prescription Drug Misuse
Prescription Drugs
Substance-Related Disorders
Suicidal Ideation
Survival Analysis
United States
Young Adult