Populations at Risk

Objective

To describe the rate of inappropriate utilization, abuse, and diversion in a population of chronic pain patients who were prescribed chronic opioids, as measured by urine drug testing in the clinical setting.

Results

Data from 938,586 patient test results showed that 75% of patients may not be taking their pain medications in a manner consistent with their prescribed regimens.

Additional Findings:

• 38% of patients had no detectable level of their prescribed medication.
• 29% of patients had a nonprescribed medication present.
• 27% had a drug level higher than expected.
• 15% had a drug level lower than expected.
• 11% had illicit drugs detected in their urine.^1*

The high observed rate of noncompliance demonstrates a significant clinical concern and confirms the importance of periodic urine drug screening for the population prescribed long-term opioid therapy.