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Stephen F. Butler, PhD, Simon Budman, PhD, and Nathanial Katz, MD. Inflexxion, Inc., 320 Needham St., Suite 100, Newton, MA 02464, 6173326028, sfbutler@inflexxion.com
PURPOSE: To understand in a qualitative manner how key stakeholders view the concept of "attractiveness" or abuse potential of various modified-release opioids (MROs). To determine the feasibility of developing a scale that could reliably differentiate the potential for abuse of various MROs. METHODS: Interviews using structured qualitative methods were conducted with 16 key stakeholders, including: (1) opioid abuse experts, (2) impaired professionals (persons in the healthcare field who currently abuse or have abused prescriptions opioids, including MROs), (3) casual prescription MRO users, (4) persons in treatment for MRO abuse, and (5) pain patients with a history of MRO misuse. Content analysis of individual interview data was conducted to identify similarities and differences between the perceptions and experiences of the various stakeholders and to begin to understand what causes a MRO to be attractive or unattractive to a potential abuser. RESULTS: Content Analysis revealed: (1) socioeconomic status is more likely relevant to views of "attractiveness" than geography, (2) attractiveness of an MRO may depend on the person’s experience with substance use/abuse, and (3) stakeholders consistently identified eight domains as indicators of attractiveness or unattractiveness (quality of the high, length of the high, delivery system/route of administration, availability, cost, side effects/withdrawal, peer influence, perceived danger). Extractability, or the process of manipulating or altering a medication to extract the active ingredient, is also important for some MRO users. CONCLUSION: Stakeholders agreed that different opioid preparations are associated with different levels/degrees of attractiveness to potential abusers. Results suggest the feasibility of developing a scale that could reliably differentiate the potential for abuse of various MROs.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Substance Abuse,
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Stephen Butler is the Senior Vice President and Chief Science Officer at Inflexxion. He is he Principal Investigator on the project developing the Opioid Attractiveness Measure.