Need for Abuse Deterrent Products
The misuse and abuse of prescription drug products in general, and opioid analgesics in particular, is a significant societal problem that has been described as a top priority by the White House’s Office of National Drug Control Policy and an epidemic in nature by Joseph A. Califano, Jr., Chairman and President, National Center for Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, July 2005.
Acura’s abuse deterrent technology platforms, LIMITX™, IMPEDE® and AVERSION™, have potential benefits in combating the abuse of opioid analgesics, non-opioid drugs and nasal decongestants.
- Opioid Analgesics
In a 2011 survey of 400 opioid prescribing physicians, 39% of physicians indicated that they were highly concerned with the diversion of their opioid prescriptions for non-medical purposes and 42% were highly concerned about opioid abuse by their patients. Less than 17% of these same physicians indicated they were confident they could adequately identify patients who are diverting or misusing their opioid prescriptions. Further, 77% and 66% of the physicians indicated that abuse of their opioid prescription by injection and snorting, respectively, would likely lead to serious adverse health consequences for the abuser, as compared to only 38% for abuse by oral administration.
Several independent organizations have estimated the potential cost impact of prescription opioid abuse to insurers. An analysis of health and pharmacy insurance claims between 1998 and 2002 for almost two million Americans conducted by Analysis Group, Inc. and others indicated that enrollees with a diagnosis of opioid abuse had average claims of approximately $14,000 per year higher than an age-gender matched non-opioid abuse sample. A 2007 report by the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud, after adjusting for inflation, estimated this excess cost per patient at more than $16,000 for 2007. By applying the U.S. government’s estimated 4.4 million annual opioid abusers, this organization concluded that abuse of immediate release (IR) and extended release (ER) opioid products could cost health insurers up to $72.5 billion a year.
OxyContin®, Vicodin®, Lortab®, Lorcet®, Darvon®, Darvocet®, Ultram®, Percocet®, Percodan®, Tylox®, Tylenol®, and Demerol® are registered trademarks of others.
- Nasal Decongestants
Pseudoephedrine (PSE) is a widely-used nasal decongestant available in many non-prescription and prescription cold, sinus and allergy products. PSE products can be misused for the clandestine production of methamphetamine, a highly addictive, illicit drug abused by an estimated 1.1 million Americans annually.
In 2006, the enforcement, clean-up and socials costs associated with methamphetamine production led the U.S. government to enact the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act (CMEA), relating to the over-the-counter sale of PSE products. The CMEA was enacted in response to an alarming increase in and widespread conversion of PSE containing products into methamphetamine. Among other things, the CMEA requires retail stores to maintain their inventory of PSE containing products in a secured location and restricts the amount of PSE products a store can sell to an individual customer.