US Pharm. 2016;41(8):12.
Madison, NJ—According to a new study from Quest Diagnostics, the majority of American adults taking opioids and other commonly prescribed medications use them in ways that put their health at risk. An analysis of over 3 million test results revealed that 54% showed evidence of prescription drug misuse in 2015. Drug misuse is defined as evidence, based on laboratory test results, that a patient is using or combining nonprescribed drugs or skipping doses in a manner that is inconsistent with the ordering physician’s directions. The findings are significant because combinations of certain drugs, such as opioids and sedatives, can result in potentially dangerous interactions, including severe respiratory depression, coma, and death.
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