MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
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Dr. Piper[/caption]
Brian J Piper, PhD MS
Department of Medical Education
Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine
Scranton, Pennsylvania
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: All states have a Prescription Monitoring Program to collect data about controlled substance prescriptions. Maine also had a Diversion Alert Program to obtain information about arrests involving prescription and illicit drugs.
Buprenorphine is a treatment for an opioid use disorder. Naloxone is an opioid antagonist. Prior pharmacoepidemiology research found that buprenorphine accounted for half of prescriptions for males in their twenties in Maine.
1
This study examined the current status of the opioid crisis using three complementary data sources:
1) Arrests as reported to the Diversion Alert Program;
2) Medical opioid use as reported by the Drug Enforcement Administration; and
3) Overdoses as reported to the medical examiner.
