BALTIMORE, Feb. 22, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — Ameritox(SM), a national leader in medication monitoring solutions, presented new research Friday showing a nearly 20-percent increase in the share of patient samples that do not contain the patient's prescribed opioid medication. Attendees at the American Academy of Pain Medicine (AAPM) Annual Meeting, held in Palm Springs, California, learned that a full 43 percent of patient samples collected over a period of 31 months ending in July 2015 showed potential nonadherence. The 2012 Ameritox National Prescription Drug Report found that 35.9 percent of patient samples showed potential nonadherence.
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Samples where a prescribed opioid is not detected raise serious concerns about patient care or the risk of drug diversion – intentional or accidental.
Based on samples collected from more than 447,000 patients between January 2013 and July 2015, the Ameritox data showed that potential nonadherence was greatest among those aged 10-19, at a rate of 62 percent. Though potential nonadherence declined in each decade after that, it remained significant even among those aged 60-69 (potential nonadherence, 39 percent) and those aged 70-79 (potential nonadherence, 37 percent).
"We understand that many patients find it difficult to have conversations with their doctor about their treatment," said Ameritox Chief Medical Officer Dr. Tom Smith. "Medication monitoring results can help prompt doctor-patient discussions that lead to improved patient care, and also is an important tool in reducing misuse, abuse and diversion of prescription medication."
About Ameritox
Ameritox helped pioneer the prescription drug monitoring necessary to address the national epidemic of prescription drug misuse, abuse and diversion. As a trusted leader in medication monitoring, Ameritox provides medical and business professionals with health care solutions that can help improve patient care and prevent tragedy. Ameritox, headquartered in Baltimore, Md., has laboratory facilities in Greensboro, N.C.
Visit the Ameritox website at: www.ameritox.com
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Contact: Lon Wagner
Director of Communications, Ameritox
(336) 387-7742
Email
Josh Silberberg
30 Point Strategies
(202) 304-1546
Email