A Retrospective Study of Concurrent Non-Prescribed Medicinal and Illicit Drug Use by Opioid Dependent Patients Prescribed with Buprenorphine

Abstract

Buprenorphine being a partial opioid agonist of the µ-receptor is widely preferred for managing opioid addiction. This retrospective study was conducted at a tertiary care de-addiction centre of North India. The laboratory records of all consecutive urine samples send for drug analysis over a period of 5 years were reviewed. The most prevalent illicit drug used in both the groups (prescribed and non-prescribed buprenorphine) was morphine followed by cannabis. The most prevalent controlled drug used by both the group was benzodiazepines. The overall prevalence of illicit and medicinal drug use was significantly higher in subjects who were prescribed with buprenorphine versus the non-prescribed use. Due to the increase in concurrent consumption of drugs along with buprenorphine in opioid dependent patients, it is recommended that health professionals prescribing buprenorphine should be well versed about the potential harm of concomitant usage of buprenorphine. This would reduce the risk of potential toxicity or fatal drug interaction among patients.