High-Risk Obtainment of Prescription Drugs by Older Adults in New Jersey: The Role of Prescription Opioids

Objectives To explore the high‐risk ways in which older adults obtain prescription opioids and to identify predictors of obtaining prescription opioids from high‐risk sources, such as obtaining the same drug from multiple doctors, sharing drugs, and stealing prescription pads. Design Logistic regression analyses of cross‐sectional survey data from the New Jersey Older Adult Survey on Drug Use and Health, a representative random‐sample survey. Participants Adults aged 60 and older (N = 725). Measurements Items such as obtaining prescriptions for the same drug from more than one doctor and stealing prescription drugs were measured to determine high‐risk obtainment of prescription opioids. Results Almost 15% of the sample used high‐risk methods of obtaining prescription opioids. Adults who previously used a prescription opioid recreationally had three times the risk of high‐risk obtainment of prescription opioids. Conclusion These findings illustrate the importance of strengthening prescription drug monitoring programs to reduce high‐risk use of prescription drugs in older adults by alerting doctors and pharmacists to potential prescription drug misuse and interactions.