Programas de monitoreo de medicamentos de prescripción en los Estados Unidos de América / Prescription drug monitoring programs in the United States of America

Desde finales de la década de los años noventa, el número de muertes por sobredosis que involucran analgésicos opioides se ha cuadriplicado en los Estados Unidos de América (de 4 030 muertes en 1999 a 16 651 en 2010). Los objetivos de este artículo son proporcionar una visión general del problema de sobredosis de medicamentos de prescripción en los Estados Unidos y discutir las acciones que podrían ayudar a reducir el problema, abordando en forma directa las características de los Programas de monitoreo de medicamentos de prescripción (PDMP). Estos programas están compuestos de bases de datos a nivel estatal que vigilan las sustancias controladas. La información recopilada en las bases de datos está a disposición de las personas autorizadas por el Estado (por ejemplo, los médicos, los farmacéuticos y otros proveedores de cuidado médico) y debe ser utilizada solo con propósitos profesionales. Los proveedores pueden utilizar dicha información para evitar la interacción con otros medicamentos, la duplicación terapéutica o la identificación de conductas de búsqueda de drogas. Las agencias del orden público pueden utilizar estos programas para identificar patrones de prescripción inadecuada, dispensación o desviación.

Since the late 1990s, the number of opioid analgesic overdose deaths has quadrupled in the United States of America (from 4 030 deaths in 1999 to 16 651 in 2010). The objectives of this article are to provide an overview of the problem of prescription drug overdose in the United States and to discuss actions that could help reduce the problem, with particular attention to the characteristics of prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs). These programs consist of state-level databases that monitor controlled substances. The information compiled in the databases is at the disposal of authorized persons (e.g., physicians, pharmacists, and other health-care providers) and may be used only for professional purposes. Suppliers can use such information to prevent interaction with other drugs or therapeutic duplication, or to identify drug-search behavior. Law enforcement agencies can use these programs to identify improper drug prescription or dispensing patterns, or drug diversion.

Study of deliberate selff-harm by drug overdose King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia 1989-1993

To determine the precipitating factors for deliberate self-harm [DSH], the drugs commonly used for DSH, the psychiatric disorders involved and the reasons for admitting such patients to hospital. This study addresses the issue of deliberate self-harm [DSH] by drug overdose of patients admitted to King Abdulaziz University Hospital [KAUH], in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Fifty-four patients constituted 0.54% of the admissions at KAUH medical unit over a 5-year period [1989-1993]. The study found that DSH by drug overdose was higher in Saudi patients. By gender, the female to male ratio was 2.6:1 and the majority of patients [85.1%], were between the age of 13 years and 29 years. Mefenamic acid [Ponstan [Registered]] was the most commonly used drug by more than 48% of the patients. Personal problems [66.7%] were considered to be the predominant precipitating factor for DSH by drug overdose, and it was found to be highly significant in female patients. Psychiatric disorders were more significant in male patients. The most common psychiatric disorder diagnosed was depression in 55.6% of the patients. No deaths were reported from attempts of DSH by drug overdose during the period of the study. There is a need for further population-based studies to determine the extent of the problem of DSH by drug overdose. Such findings will provide measures to develop intervention strategies, promote public awareness, and develop improved methods of preventing DSH by overdose