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Non-medical Use of Prescription Opioids Among Ontario Adults: Data From the 2008/2009 CAMH Monitor

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Abstract

Objective: There are indications that non-medical prescription opioid analgesics use (NMPOU) in the general population has increased in Canada in recent years; however, existing estimates have limitations. Thus our objectives are to determine prevalence and associated demographics of 1) prescription opioid analgesics (PO) use, 2) NMPOU, and 3) use of PO for intoxication purposes in the adult population in Ontario.

Methods: Prevalence and the associations between sex, age, region, income, cigarette smoking, binge drinking, cannabis use and psychological distress with the above-noted types of PO use were assessed using data from the 2008 and 2009 samples (n=2030) of the CAMH Monitor. The statistical significance of the associations for all types of PO use was tested through bivariate associations using chi-square tests, and a two-step logistic regression was performed to test if demographics are associated with NMPOU.

Results: The prevalence of PO use was 21.3% (95% CI 19.1–23.4), and the prevalence of NMPOU was 2.0% (95% CI 1.2–2.8) of Ontario adults. There were no significant differences between men and women for either PO use or NMPOU. Bivariate associations indicated that NMPOU was associated with tobacco and cannabis use and psychological distress in men. Logistic regression showed a significant association between NMPOU and each of age, cannabis use, and psychological distress in men.

Discussion: NMPOU is an emerging epidemic in Canada across all income and age groups, and is associated with other substance use and mental health problems. Improved survey designs are required for more accurate population estimates of NMPOU.

Résumé

Objectif: La consommation d’analgésiques opioïdes sans ordonnance médicale (CAOSOM) semble augmenter dans la population générale depuis quelques années au Canada, mais les estimations actuelles comportent des lacunes. Nous avons voulu déterminer la prévalence et le profil démographique associé à: 1) la consommation d’analgésiques opioïdes (AO) sur ordonnance, 2) la CAOSOM et 3) la consommation d’AO à des fins d’intoxication dans la population adulte de l’Ontario.

Méthode: La prévalence et les associations entre le sexe, l’âge, la région, le revenu, l’usage de la cigarette, les excès d’alcool, l’usage du cannabis et la détresse psychologique, d’une part, et les types de consommation d’AO indiqués plus haut, ont été évaluées à l’aide des données des échantillons de 2008 et de 2009 (n=2 030) du CAMH Monitor. La signification statistique des associations pour tous les types de consommation d’AO a été testée au moyen d’associations bivariées à l’aide du test du khi-carré, et une régression logistique en deux temps a été effectuée pour tester les associations possibles des données démographiques avec la CAOSOM.

Résultats: La prévalence de la consommation d’AO était de 21,3 % (IC de 95 % 19,1–23,4), et la prévalence de la CAOSOM était de 2,0 % (IC de 95 % 1,2–2,8) chez les adultes de l’Ontario. Il n’y avait aucun écart significatif entre les hommes et les femmes, ni pour la consommation d’AO, ni pour la CAOSOM. Les associations bivariées montrent que la CAOSOM est associée à l’usage du tabac et du cannabis et à la détresse psychologique chez les hommes. La régression logistique fait état d’une association significative entre la CAOSOM et, respectivement, l’âge, l’usage du cannabis et la détresse psychologique chez les hommes.

Discussion: La CAOSOM est une épidémie émergente au Canada dans tous les groupes d’âge et de revenu; elle est associée à la consommation d’autres substances et aux problèmes de santé mentale. Il faudrait améliorer les plans de sondage pour obtenir des estimations plus exactes de la CAOSOM dans la population.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, 33 Russell Street, Toronto, ON, M5S 2S1, Canada

    Kevin D. Shield MHSc, Anca Ialomiteanu MSc, Benedikt Fischer PhD, Robert E. Mann PhD & Jürgen Rehm PhD

  2. Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Kevin D. Shield MHSc & Jürgen Rehm PhD

  3. Centre for Applied Research in Mental Health and Addictions, Simon Fraser University, Faculty of Health Sciences, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Benedikt Fischer PhD

  4. Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Benedikt Fischer PhD, Robert E. Mann PhD & Jürgen Rehm PhD

  5. Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Jürgen Rehm PhD

  6. Institute for Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany

    Jürgen Rehm PhD

Authors
  1. Kevin D. Shield MHSc
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  2. Anca Ialomiteanu MSc
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  3. Benedikt Fischer PhD
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  4. Robert E. Mann PhD
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  5. Jürgen Rehm PhD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kevin D. Shield MHSc.

Additional information

Sources of Funding: Drs. Fischer and Rehm acknowledge funding support from a CIHR Team Grant (#SAF195814) as well as from the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. Dr. Fischer acknowledges support from a CIHR/PHAC Research Chair in Applied Public Health (#CPP85657), and from a Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research (MSFHR) Senior Scholar Award.

Conflict of Interest: None to declare.

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Shield, K.D., Ialomiteanu, A., Fischer, B. et al. Non-medical Use of Prescription Opioids Among Ontario Adults: Data From the 2008/2009 CAMH Monitor. Can J Public Health 102, 330–335 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03404171

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03404171

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