Opioid misuse in community pharmacy patients with chronic non-cancer pain.

AIMS Community pharmacists could contribute to identify people misusing prescription opioids, which may be associated with hospitalizations, substance use disorders, and death. This study investigated prescription opioid misuse in community pharmacy patients and the factors potentially associated with high Prescription Opioid Misuse Index (POMI) scores. METHODS In this cross-sectional study, pharmacy students asked patients with opioids prescriptions to fill in a questionnaire (including the POMI) in community pharmacies in a French region, in April 2019. Eligible patients were adults with chronic non-cancer pain who consented to participate. RESULTS In total, 414 patients (62.4% of women; mean age: 58.00 years ± 16.00) were included. The prescribed opioids were mainly weak opioids (73.2%; paracetamol/tramadol: 35%). Strong opioids (32.6%) included oxycodone (11.95%), fentanyl (9%), and morphine (9%). The median morphine milligram equivalent (MME) was 40 mg/day [IQR25-75 : 20-80]. The POMI score (0 to 6) was ≥4 in 16% of patients who were younger (p 100 mg, OR: 2.65 [95%CI: 1.14-4.41, p=0.0194) were significantly associated with POMI scores ≥4. CONCLUSIONS The high proportion of patients with high POMI scores underlines the interest of prescription opioid misuse screening in community pharmacies, in order to help these patients and refer them to pain specialists, if needed.