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Review
. 2017 Nov;59(11):1114-1126.
doi: 10.1097/JOM.0000000000001154.

Characterizing the Interrelationships of Prescription Opioid and Benzodiazepine Drugs With Worker Health and Workplace Hazards

Michele Kowalski-McGraw  1 , Judith Green-McKenzie, Sudha P Pandalai, Paul A Schulte
Affiliations
Review

Characterizing the Interrelationships of Prescription Opioid and Benzodiazepine Drugs With Worker Health and Workplace Hazards

Michele Kowalski-McGraw et al. J Occup Environ Med. 2017 Nov.

Abstract

Objective: Prescription opioid and benzodiazepine drug use, which has risen significantly, can affect worker health. Exploration of the scientific literature assessed (1) interrelationships of such drug use, occupational risk factors, and illness and injury, and (2) occupational and personal risk factor combinations that can affect their use.

Methods: The scientific literature from 2000 to 2015 was searched to determine any interrelationships.

Results: Evidence for eight conceptual models emerged based on the search yield of 133 articles. These models summarize interrelationships among prescription opioid and benzodiazepine use with occupational injury and illness. Factors associated with the use of these drugs included fatigue, impaired cognition, falls, motor vehicle crashes, and the use of multiple providers.

Conclusion: Prescription opioid and benzodiazepine drugs may be both a personal risk factor for work-related injury and a consequence of workplace exposures.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors disclose no conflicts of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Search terms and iterative search process used to identify the 133 articles used in the models.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
The number of studies used in each model classified by study design.
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References

    1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) [Accessed January 6, 2017];Injury Prevention and Control: Opioid Overdose. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/epidemic/index.html or http://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/index.html.
    1. Bachhuber MA, Hennessy S, Cunningham CO, Starrels JL. Increasing benzodiazepine prescriptions and overdose mortality in the United States, 1996–2013. Am J Pub Health. 2016;106:686–688. - PMC - PubMed
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    1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. [Accessed January 6, 2017];CDC Injury Prevention and Control: Prescription Drug Overdose. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/drugoverdose/index.html.

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