Abuse Rates and Routes of Administration of Reformulated Extended Release Oxycodone: Initial Findings from a Sentinel Surveillance Sample of Individuals Assessed For Substance Abuse Treatment

Author(s)

Stephen F. Butler, Inflexxion, Inc.Follow
Theresa A. Cassidy
Howard Chilcoat, Purdue Pharma LP
Ryan A. Black, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow
Craig Landau, Purdue Pharma LP
Simon H. Budman, Inflexxion, Inc.Follow
Paul M. Coplan, Purdue Pharma LP

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Journal of Pain

ISSN

1526-5900

Publication Date

4-2013

Abstract

Oxycodone hydrochloride controlled-release, also known as extended-release oxycodone (ER oxycodone), was reformulated with physicochemical barriers to crushing and dissolving intended to reduce abuse through nonoral routes of administration (ROAs) that require tampering (eg, injecting and snorting). Manufacturer shipments of original ER oxycodone (OC) stopped on August 5, 2010, and reformulated ER oxycodone (ORF) shipments started August 9, 2010. A sentinel surveillance sample of 140,496 individuals assessed for substance abuse treatment at 357 U.S. centers between June 1, 2009, and March 31, 2012, was examined for prevalence and prescription-adjusted prevalence rates of past-30-day abuse via any route, as well as abuse through oral, nonoral, and specific ROAs for ER oxycodone and comparators (ER morphine and ER oxymorphone) before and after ORF introduction. Significant reductions occurred for 8 outcome measures of ORF versus OC historically. Abuse of ORF was 41% lower (95% CI: -44 to -37) than historical abuse for OC, with oral abuse 17% lower (95% CI: -23 to -10) and nonoral abuse 66% lower (95% CI: -69 to -63). Significant reductions were not observed for comparators. Observations were consistent with the goals of a tamper resistant formulation for an opioid. Further research is needed to determine the persistence and generalizability of these findings.

Perspective: This article presents preliminary findings indicating that 8 outcome measures of abuse of a reformulated ER oxycodone were lower than that for original ER oxycodone historically, particularly through nonoral ROAs that require tampering (ie, injection, snorting, smoking), in a sentinel sample of individuals assessed for substance use problems for treatment planning.

DOI

10.1016/j.jpain.2012.08.008

Volume

14

Issue

4

First Page

351

Last Page

360

NSUWorks Citation

Butler, S. F., Cassidy, T. A., Chilcoat, H., Black, R. A., Landau, C., Budman, S. H., Coplan, P. M. (2013). Abuse Rates and Routes of Administration of Reformulated Extended Release Oxycodone: Initial Findings from a Sentinel Surveillance Sample of Individuals Assessed For Substance Abuse Treatment. Journal of Pain, 14(4), 351-360.
Available at: https://nsuworks.nova.edu/cps_facarticles/681