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Review
. 2021 Apr;87(4):1654-1659.
doi: 10.1111/bcp.14592. Epub 2020 Nov 5.

Regional, national and international datasets: How they improve our understanding of the acute harms associated with prescription medicine misuse

David M Wood  1   2 , Paul I Dargan  1   2
Affiliations
Free article
Review

Regional, national and international datasets: How they improve our understanding of the acute harms associated with prescription medicine misuse

David M Wood et al. Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2021 Apr.
Free article

Abstract

Prescription medicine misuse is a significant problem in many areas of the world. Understanding the acute and chronic harms related to misuse of prescription medicines allows healthcare professionals, drug addiction treatment services and legislative authorities to determine what interventions may be beneficial to reduce these harms and protect individuals and society. However, it is difficult to obtain systematic data on the harms associated with prescription medicine misuse because of how patient visits to clinics and hospitals are recorded and coded in regional or national databases. In this review, we discuss how regional, national and international sources of information can help develop a greater understanding of the prevalence and pattern of acute harms related to prescription medicine misuse using data from ambulance attendances, emergency department presentations and poisons information services.

Keywords: acute harm; benzodiazepine; misuse; non-medical use; opioid; prescription medicines.

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References

REFERENCES

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