Use and Misuse of Opioids in Maine: Results From Pharmacists, the Prescription Monitoring, and the Diversion Alert Programs.

OBJECTIVE: Although opioids have substantial efficacy for acute pain management, escalation to opioid misuse and abuse is a persistent concern. This report assesses the current status of the opioid epidemic in Maine using three complementary data sets. METHOD: A representative sample of pharmacists (N = 275) completed an online survey regarding the extent that opioids affected their practice. A county-level analysis of opioid prescriptions (N = 1.22 million) reported to the Maine Prescription Monitoring Program (M-PMP) in 2014 and the agents implicated in arrests as reported to the Maine Diversion Alert Program (DAP, N = 2,700) in 2014/15 also was completed. RESULTS: A significantly greater number of pharmacists agreed that opioid misuse (85.9%), rather than diversion (76.8%) or access (54.2%), was a concern. Only half (56.2%) reported use of the M-PMP. Opioids were dispensed to 22.4% of residents (37.7% of women in their 80s). This was enough to supply everyone in Maine with a 16.1-day supply. Buprenorphine accounted for almost half of opioid prescriptions to young adults (46.3% women, 49.3% men). Arrests increased by 13.3% from 2014 to 2015, and the proportion of arrests that involved prescription opioids decreased while those involving stimulants and heroin were elevated. CONCLUSIONS: Pharmacists are very aware of the potential for opioid misuse, but many do not consistently use the M-PMP. There continues to be substantial legitimate use, as well as criminal activity, involving oxycodone and other prescription opioids. Continued vigilance and use of tools like the PMP and DAP are necessary to minimize nonmedical use of opioids in Maine.

Evaluation of urban-rural differences in pharmacy practice needs in Maine with the MaPPNA / Evaluación de las diferencias urbano-rural en las necesidades de la farmacia práctica en Maine con el MaPPNA

Background: Maine is a rural state with an aging population located in the northeastern United States. Pharmacists play an important role in serving the public’s health as they are often the most available point-of-contact within a community. Objective: To assess the current pharmacy practice needs as viewed by licensed pharmacists across our rural state, and to distinguish issues that are unique to rural pharmacy practice. Methods: An online survey was sent to all licensed pharmacists in the state in the fall of 2014 (n=1,262) to assess their pharmacy practice needs, and specify an rural-specific needs, within the categories of (1) opioid misuse, abuse, and diversion, (2) challenges associated with access to healthcare, (3) poly-pharmacy use, (4) meeting the needs of special populations, (5) lack of antibiotic stewardship, and (6) resources, such as staffing. Results: The response rate was 22.1 % (n=279). We found the most agreed upon issue facing pharmacists’ in Maine is opioid use, misuse and diversion, followed closely by shortages in staffing. We also learned that pharmacists’ view pharmaceutical care for older adults, those with low health literacy, and those with mental disabilities more time-consuming. Some urban-rural differences were discovered in with regard to the pharmacists’ views; such as the magnitude of the distance barrier, and limited transportation options available to rural residents. Issues related to polypharmacy were viewed as more problematic by pharmacists practicing in urban versus rural sites. Conclusions: Pharmaceutical care in Maine must focus on meeting the needs of the elderly, those with disabilities, and those with limited health literacy. As with the rest of the nation, opioids challenge pharmacy practice in a variety of ways. These findings clarify areas that present opportunities for pharmacists to focus more specifically on Maine’s largely rural population (AU)

Antecedentes: Maine es un estado rural con una población envejecida localizado al noreste de los Estados Unidos. Los farmacéuticos desempeñan un papel importante sirviendo la salud del público, ya que a menudo son el punto de contacto más disponible en una comunidad. Objetivo: Evaluar las necesidades de farmacia práctica actuales desde el punto de vista de los farmacéuticos registrados en nuestro estado rural, e identificar problemas que son específicos del ejercicio rural de la farmacia. Métodos: Se envió un cuestionario online a todos los farmacéuticos registrados en el estado en otoño de 2014 (n=1.262) para evaluar sus necesidades de la práctica, y las necesidades específicas del rural, con las categorías de (1) mal uso, abuso y uso recreativo de opiáceos, (2) retos asociados con el acceso a la sanidad, (3) uso de polimedicación, (4) satisfacción de las necesidades de poblaciones especiales, (5) falta de control antibiótico, y (6) recursos, tales como el personal. Resultados: La tasa de respuesta fue del 22,1% (n=279). Encontramos que la mayoría está de acuerdo que el mayor problema a los que se enfrentan los farmacéuticos es el uso, abuso y uso recreativo de opiáceos, seguido de cerca por la escasez de personal. Aprendimos también que los farmacéuticos ven la atención farmacéutica a ancianos, a los de baja literacía en salud y a los que padecen discapacidades mentales como más consumidora de tiempo. Se descubrieron algunas diferencias entre urbano-rural en la visión de los farmacéuticos tales como la magnitud de la barrera distancia, y las limitadas opciones de transporte disponibles para los residentes rurales. Los asuntos relacionados con la polimedicación eran vistos como más problemáticos por los farmacéuticos ejerciendo en ambiente urbano. Conclusiones: La atención farmacéutica en Maine debe centrarse en satisfacer las necesidades de los ancianos, de los que tienen discapacidades y de los que tienen baja literacía en salud. Como en el resto del país, los opiáceos amenazan el ejercicio de la farmacia de varios modos. Estos hallazgos clarifican áreas que representan oportunidades para que los farmacéuticos se centren más específicamente en la población mayoritariamente rual de Maine (AU)

Evaluation of urban-rural differences in pharmacy practice needs in Maine with the MaPPNA.

BACKGROUND: Maine is a rural state with an aging population located in the northeastern United States. Pharmacists play an important role in serving the public's health as they are often the most available point-of-contact within a community. OBJECTIVE: To assess the current pharmacy practice needs as viewed by licensed pharmacists across our rural state, and to distinguish issues that are unique to rural pharmacy practice. METHODS: An online survey was sent to all licensed pharmacists in the state in the fall of 2014 (n=1,262) to assess their pharmacy practice needs, and specify an rural-specific needs, within the categories of (1) opioid misuse, abuse, and diversion, (2) challenges associated with access to healthcare, (3) poly-pharmacy use, (4) meeting the needs of special populations, (5) lack of antibiotic stewardship, and (6) resources, such as staffing. RESULTS: The response rate was 22.1 % (n=279). We found the most agreed upon issue facing pharmacists' in Maine is opioid use, misuse and diversion, followed closely by shortages in staffing. We also learned that pharmacists' view pharmaceutical care for older adults, those with low health literacy, and those with mental disabilities more time-consuming. Some urban-rural differences were discovered in with regard to the pharmacists' views; such as the magnitude of the distance barrier, and limited transportation options available to rural residents. Issues related to polypharmacy were viewed as more problematic by pharmacists practicing in urban versus rural sites. CONCLUSIONS: Pharmaceutical care in Maine must focus on meeting the needs of the elderly, those with disabilities, and those with limited health literacy. As with the rest of the nation, opioids challenge pharmacy practice in a variety of ways. These findings clarify areas that present opportunities for pharmacists to focus more specifically on Maine's largely rural population.