Antidepressants abuse in subjects with opioid use disorders: A 10-year study in the French OPPIDUM program.

Accumulating evidence shows that some antidepressants are abused for their psychostimulant effects, but the extent of antidepressants abuse is unknown in subjects with opioid use disorders (OUD). The objective of this work is to assess the prevalence of antidepressant abuse and its correlates in subjects with OUD. Subjects ≥18 year-old in an opiate maintenance treatment (OMT) program who reported using an antidepressant were selected from the OPPIDUM program from 2011 to 2020. The outcome was antidepressant abuse. Antidepressant abusers were identified as subjects reporting at least one of the following behaviors: "drug abuse," "concomitant use of alcohol," "illegal obtaining," and "dose higher than recommended in the Summary of Product Characteristics." Among the 83 040 observations of subjects ≥18 year-old in an OMT program included in the OPPIDUM program from 2011 to 2020, 2708 (3.3%) subjects reported using an antidepressant in monotherapy. Among them, there were 385 (14.2%) abusers. The proportion of abusers was the highest for amitriptyline (n = 31, 25.0%). In multivariate analysis, antidepressant abuse was positively associated with amitriptyline (OR 2.07, 95% CI [1.16, 3.73]; p = 0.015), unemployment (OR 1.52, 95% CI [1.16, 2.01]; p = 0.003), the use of intravenous route of administration (OR 1.77, 95% CI [1.12, 2.80]; p = 0.014), and the use of benzodiazepines (OR 1.53, 95% CI [1.21, 1.94]; p < 0.001). Clinicians should be aware of the risk of antidepressant abuse when prescribing in subjects with OUD, accounting for their heterogeneous pharmacological properties that may account for their abuse potential.

Impact of pregnancy on psychoactive substance use among women with substance use disorders recruited in addiction specialized care centers in France.

Pregnancy can be a motivation for decrease in drug abusing but may also represent a period of high vulnerability for relapse. We aimed to assess psychoactive substance use among women with substance use disorders followed in addiction care centers in France. We analyzed data from women aged 15-44 years included in the 'Observation of illegal drugs and misuse of psychotropic medication (OPPIDUM) survey', an annual cross-sectional survey collecting details on psychoactive substances used. Characteristics of women included in 2005-2012 yearly surveys were compared depending on their pregnant or not pregnant status. Factors, including pregnancy, associated with illicit substance use and medication misuse were investigated through logistic regression. The study included 518 pregnant and 6345 nonpregnant women; 85.3% pregnant women were on opioid maintenance therapy (OMT) (vs. 77.1% of nonpregnant). Pregnancy was associated with lower illicit substance use (adjusted OR 0.71 [0.58-0.88]) and with lower medication misuse (0.66 [0.49-0.89]), whereas financial insecurity and living as a couple were associated with increased risk. Raising children was significantly associated with less risk of substance use. Each substance taken separately, the part of women using illicit substance or misusing medication did not differ depending on whether they were pregnant or not, except for heroin (24.5% in pregnant vs. 17.9% nonpregnant; <0.001). This nationwide study provides new insights into psychoactive substance use in a large mixed population of women with drug use disorders. Results outline the challenge of preventing drug use and initiating care strategies with a specific approach on socio-economic environment.

[Surveillance system on drug abuse: Interest of the French national OPPIDUM program of French addictovigilance network]. / Dispositif pharmacoépidémiologique de surveillance des substances psychoactives : intérêts du programme national OPPIDUM du Réseau français d'addictovigilance.

It is important to assess drug abuse liability in 'real life' using different surveillance systems. OPPIDUM ('Observation of illegal drugs and misuse of psychotropic medications') surveillance system anonymously collects information on drug abuse and dependence observed in patients recruited in specialized care centers dedicated to drug dependence. The aim of this article is to demonstrate the utility of OPPIDUM system using 2015 data. OPPIDUM is a cross-sectional survey repeated each year since 1995. In 2015, 5003 patients described the modality of use of 10,159 psychoactive drugs. Among them, 77% received an opiate maintenance treatment: 68% methadone (half of them consumed capsule form) and 27% buprenorphine (39% consumed generic form). Brand-name buprenorphine is more often injected than generic buprenorphine (10% vs. 2%) and among methadone consumers 7% of methadone capsule consumers have illegally obtained methadone (vs. 9% for syrup form). The proportion of medications among psychoactive drugs injected is important (42%), with morphine representing 21% of the total psychoactive drugs injected and buprenorphine, 16%. OPPIDUM highlighted emergent behaviors of abuse with some analgesic opioids (like tramadol, oxycodone or fentanyl), pregabalin, or quetiapine. OPPIDUM highlighted variations of drugs use regarding geographic approaches or by drug dependence care centers (like in harm reduction centers). OPPIDUM clearly demonstrated that collection of valid and useful data on drug abuse is possible, these data have an interest at regional, national and international levels.

[Characteristics of subjects under opiate maintenance treatment in primary care using the OPEMA data 2013]. / Caractéristiques des sujets sous traitement de substitution vus en médecine générale d'après l'enquête nationale OPEMA 2013.

AIM: The objective of the study is to describe the characteristics of subjects under opiate maintenance treatment by general practionners (GPs). METHOD: Data analysis from observatory for pharmacodependency in ambulatory medicine survey (observation des pharmacodépendances en médecine ambulatoire [OPEMA]) program in 2013 of the subjects under high dosage buprenorphine (HDB) and methadone prescribed or obtained illegally reported by GPs in France. RESULTS: Survey concerned consumers with 862, 433 and 429 of high dosage buprenorphine and respectively methadone. The average age is 39±9 years respectively, and 36±8 years; over 70% are male; 55% have paid employment and over 30% report social benefits; 9% are in temporary housing. In both groups, more than 50% have anxiety and depression; over 25% have associated somatic disorders and digestive diseases, respiratory, pain is the most common. Almost 99% use oral route; nearly 100% have a daily consumption and about 20% of the alcohol concomitantly; 24% of HDB use benzodiazepines and 18% of the methadone group (P=0.06); 33% of the population using methadone consume illicit psychoactive substances and 21% for HDB population (P<0.0001), in particular cannabis (P<0.0001). Heroin and cocaine are also consumed. CONCLUSION: The population consuming opiate maintenance treatments shows social, somatic and psychiatric vulnerability. Misuse associated forms and consumption of other psychoactive substances and illegal drugs are observed. Despite the complexity of management of these patients, general practitioners have a major role to play.