Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #113528

Richard Dart, MD, PhD and Alice Hughes, MSPH. Rocky Mountatin Poison & Drug Center, 777 Bannock St, Mail Code 0180, Denver, CO 80204, 303-739-1229, Alice.Hughes@rmpdc.org

Background: Prescription drug abuse is an emerging important public health concern. Allegedly, rural areas have higher rates of prescription drug abuse. We measured the frequency of intentional exposure calls to 8 poison centers (PC) as indicators of misuse and abuse of prescription opioids. Methods: Intentional exposure calls from 11/03/02 through 9/30/03 that involved fentanyl, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, methadone, morphine, oxycodone (excluding OxyContin®) or OxyContin® alone were defined as cases of misuse or abuse. Data were grouped by three-digit zip code into 11 population categories. Results: A 5 fold difference in call rate was found (*per 100,000 total population of 3 digit zip code, population in thousands).

Population:		100-	200-	300-	400-	500-	600-	700-	800-	900-
	<100	200	300	400	500	600	700	800	900	1,000	>1,000
Call Rate*:	15.25	10.12	7.37	5.56	6.04	8.41	8.71	5.26	9.62	4.51	3.25

ANOVA testing indicates a higher prevalence of intentional exposure calls from lower population areas (p<0.01). Calls involving hydrocodone were most common; fentanyl and hydromorphone were least common. Similar trends in call rates by population area were present for all 7 opioids studied and will be presented. The call rate was greater from low population areas despite lower overall call penetration in these areas. Conclusion: Among several possible reasons for increased PC call rates are higher incidence of prescription drug use/misuse per capita, lack of local medical resources, or increased willingness to call PC in rural areas. Poison centers offer another perspective on rural health disparities.

Learning Objectives:

• Discuss differences in prescription abuse and misuse in low population areas as observed by Poison Centers. 2.Describe the use of Poison Centers as surveillance tools.
• Recognize the need for further research about prescription drug abuse and misuse.

Keywords: Rural Populations, Prescription Drug Use Patterns

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.