Data also reveals modest improvement in number of chronic pain patient samples containing prescribed medications
BALTIMORE, Dec. 17, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — A research report released today by AmeritoxSM, the nation's leader in medication monitoring solutions, revealed that more patients on chronic opioid therapy tested positive for a drug not prescribed by their doctor (33.9% in 2014, 32.3% in 2012) or for an illicit drug (11.6% in 2014, 11.1% in 2012) than two years ago. Marijuana (78%), cocaine (16.7%) and heroin (4.6%) were the most common substances detected among the samples testing positive for illicit drugs.
As an indication that the nation's drug epidemic is constantly shifting, samples from more than 400,000 unique patients showed a marginally better record in taking their prescribed medications: According to 2012 Ameritox data, the drug prescribed by the doctor was not found in 35.9 percent of samples; in the latest report, that figure dropped to 32.2 percent.
The new research shines a spotlight on 10 states with the greatest number of troubling statistics in each of three categories of concern – "prescribed drug not found," "non-prescribed drug found" and "one or more illicit drugs found."
Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Washington and Wisconsin all scored among the worst performers in one of the three main categories. California, Colorado, Michigan, and Maryland ranked among the worst in two categories. An interactive map with the complete findings from states with more than 1,000 tests is available at www.nationaldrugreport.com.
"Treating pain is a major challenge in our society, and so is the potential for misuse of prescription medications and the abuse of illicit drugs," said Ameritox CEO Scott Walton. "We need a concerted, dynamic approach – one that uses monitoring and additional insights at the clinical level – to address this problem."
Ameritox utilizes urine drug testing to provide medication monitoring services to clinicians who prescribe controlled medications: prescription narcotics (opioids such as hydrocodone and oxycodone), benzodiazepines (anti-anxiety drugs) and stimulants (such as Adderall).
"Medication monitoring can provide information a physician might not have: Insight into whether a patient is taking their prescribed medication or taking other drugs, prescribed or illicit," said Tom Smith, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of Ameritox. "This added information can lead to improved care for the millions of people across the country taking prescribed medications for their chronic pain, and help prevent the tragedies too often associated with pain medication misuse, abuse, and diversion."
About Ameritox
Ameritox helped pioneer the prescription drug monitoring necessary to address the national epidemic of prescription drug misuse, abuse, and diversion. As the nation's trusted leader in Pain Medication Monitoring SolutionsSM, 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 800 employees nationwide and laboratory facilities in Greensboro, N.C.
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Media Contact:
Lon Wagner
336-387-7742
Director of Communications, Ameritox
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Genevieve Rozansky
202-509-0794
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