Psychoactive prescription
drug use disorders,
misuse and abuse
Pharmacoepidemiological aspects
Linköping University Medical Dissertations No. 1521Micaela Tjäderborn
M ica ela T jäd erb orn P sy ch oa cti ve p re sc rip tio n d ru g u se d iso rd ers , m isu se a nd a bu se 2 016Division of Drug Research
Department of Medical and Health Sciences Linköping University Medical Dissertations No. 1521 Linköping University
SE-581 83 Linköping, Sweden
www.liu.se
Psychoactive prescription drugs are common and important interventions in the treatment of mental disorders, pain and other diseases, but their use is associated with a risk of drug use disorder, misuse and abuse. Today, these are globally recognised and emerging public health concerns. However, important information on the extent of these problems, their characteristics and important risk factors is lacking. The aim of this thesis is to estimate the prevalence of psychoactive prescription drug use disorders, misuse and abuse, and to investigate the association with some potential risk factors.
The thesis is based on data from national registers on forensic pathology and toxicology investigations, spontaneously reported adverse drug reactions, and dispensed prescription drugs. Fatal unintentional intoxications with tramadol were described. Spontaneously reported cases on tramadol dependence were
summarised. Non-prescribed use of tramadol, diazepam, flunitrazepam, zolpidem and zopiclone was investigated in drug-impaired drivers and the association with patient factors was assessed. Longitudinal utilisation patterns of pregabalin were analysed in relation to the maximum approved daily dose of the drug, and the association with patient factors was evaluated.
The findings show that psychoactive prescription drugs use disorders, misuse and abuse occur across groups in the population. The high prevalence in some sub-groups and the considerable adverse outcomes demonstrate that this is a significant clinical and public health concern. The findings suggest a potential for improvements in the utilisation of psychoactive prescription drugs. The results may be useful in the planning of clinical and regulatory preventive interventions to promote the individualised, rational and safe use of such drugs.
Psychoactive prescription
drug use disorders,
misuse and abuse
Pharmacoepidemiological aspects
Linköping University Medical Dissertations No. 1521Micaela Tjäderborn
M ica ela T jäd erb orn P sy ch oa cti ve p re sc rip tio n d ru g u se d iso rd ers , m isu se a nd a bu se 2 016Division of Drug Research
Department of Medical and Health Sciences Linköping University Medical Dissertations No. 1521 Linköping University
SE-581 83 Linköping, Sweden
www.liu.se
Psychoactive prescription drugs are common and important interventions in the treatment of mental disorders, pain and other diseases, but their use is associated with a risk of drug use disorder, misuse and abuse. Today, these are globally recognised and emerging public health concerns. However, important information on the extent of these problems, their characteristics and important risk factors is lacking. The aim of this thesis is to estimate the prevalence of psychoactive prescription drug use disorders, misuse and abuse, and to investigate the association with some potential risk factors.
The thesis is based on data from national registers on forensic pathology and toxicology investigations, spontaneously reported adverse drug reactions, and dispensed prescription drugs. Fatal unintentional intoxications with tramadol were described. Spontaneously reported cases on tramadol dependence were
summarised. Non-prescribed use of tramadol, diazepam, flunitrazepam, zolpidem and zopiclone was investigated in drug-impaired drivers and the association with patient factors was assessed. Longitudinal utilisation patterns of pregabalin were analysed in relation to the maximum approved daily dose of the drug, and the association with patient factors was evaluated.
The findings show that psychoactive prescription drugs use disorders, misuse and abuse occur across groups in the population. The high prevalence in some sub-groups and the considerable adverse outcomes demonstrate that this is a significant clinical and public health concern. The findings suggest a potential for improvements in the utilisation of psychoactive prescription drugs. The results may be useful in the planning of clinical and regulatory preventive interventions to promote the individualised, rational and safe use of such drugs.
