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. 2017 May 1:174:201-208.
doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2017.01.003. Epub 2017 Mar 10.

Non-medical opioid use and sources of opioids among pregnant and non-pregnant reproductive-aged women

Katy B Kozhimannil  1 , Amy J Graves  2 , Marian Jarlenski  3 , Alene Kennedy-Hendricks  4 , Sarah Gollust  5 , Colleen L Barry  6
Affiliations

Non-medical opioid use and sources of opioids among pregnant and non-pregnant reproductive-aged women

Katy B Kozhimannil et al. Drug Alcohol Depend. .

Abstract

Background: The morbidity and mortality burden of the US opioid epidemic falls heavily on reproductive-age women. Information on the patterns of and sources for non-medical use of prescription opioids among reproductive age women, including pregnant women, will inform public health and prevention efforts to mitigate the effects of the opioid epidemic. This study characterized non-medical use of prescription opioids among reproductive-age U.S. women, with a focus on pregnancy status.

Methods: We used nationally-representative data from the National Survey of Drug Use and Health (2005-2014) to examine non-medical use (NMU) of prescription opioids in the past 30days among females ages 18-44 (N=154,179), distinguishing pregnant women (N=8069). We used multivariable logistic regression to describe reported sources of opioids, including opioids obtained from a doctor, friend or relative, dealer, or other source.

Results: Nearly 1% of pregnant women and 2.3% of non-pregnant reproductive-age women reported opioid NMU in the past 30days. Forty-six percent of pregnant women identified a doctor as their source compared with 27.6% of non-pregnant women reporting NMU. Pregnant women reported a friend or relative as their source of opioids less frequently than non-pregnant women (53.8% versus 75.0%), and some pregnant and non-pregnant women acquired opioids from a dealer (14.6% and 10.6%).

Conclusion: Opioid NMU among reproductive-age women is a complex public health challenge affecting a vulnerable population. Pregnant women were more likely than non-pregnant women to list a doctor as their source of opioids for NMU, suggesting the need for targeted policies to address physician prescribing during pregnancy.

Keywords: Maternal and child health; Pregnancy; Prescription opioids; Women’s health.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest:

None.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Source of prescription opioids for NMU in the past 30 days among U.S. women age 18–44 by pregnancy status Notes: Weighted numbers of each source among pregnant women with opioid NMU are: Doctor: 88,720; Friend or Relative: 103,401; Dealer: 28,020, Other: 8,411. Weighted numbers of each source among non-pregnant women with opioid NMU are: Doctor: 3,469,816; Friend or Relative: 9,424,228; Dealer: 1,334,830, Other: 766,478. Unweighted numbers of each source among pregnant women with opioid NMU are: Doctor: 38; Friend or Relative: 53; Dealer: 12; Other: 5. Unweighted numbers of each source among non-pregnant women with opioid NMU are: Doctor: 1,135; Friend or Relative: 3,320; Dealer: 593, Other: 233.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Forest plot charting adjusted odds of reporting a doctor, friend or relative, or dealer as the source of opioids by the characteristics of reproductive-age women using opioids non-medically
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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