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Ensuring Proper Use and Curbing Abuse of Opioids:

An Industry Perspective

J. David Haddox, DDS, MD

Senior Medical Director, Health Policy

Purdue Pharma L.P.

FDA ALSDAC January 31, 2002

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OutlineOutline

• Disease Burden of Chronic Pain

• Treatment of Chronic Pain

• Prescription Drug Abuse and Diversion

• Risk Management Plans

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Disease Burden from Chronic PainDisease Burden from Chronic Pain

• No overall national statistics

• Surveys (representative demographics)

– State of Pain Survey (EPIC/MRA 1997)

– Chronic Pain in America (RSW 1999)

– Patients’ Attitudes Towards Opioids (HI 2002)

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“State of Pain” – 1997Michigan Pain Study – a statewide survey

“State of Pain” – 1997Michigan Pain Study – a statewide survey

• 1.2 out of 9.8 million population have chronic pain

• 77% experienced pain for over a year

• 35% missed 20+ days of work in past year

• 13% denied medications, devices or referral to

pain specialists

• 10% have thought about committing suicide

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Chronic Pain in America – 1999Roadblocks to Relief

Chronic Pain in America – 1999Roadblocks to Relief

• Focused on moderate to severe, chronic pain, not due to cancer

• 9% of all US adults suffer this type of pain

• Verbal Pain Estimate Ranges (0-10 Scale):

– 5-6 (43%) 7 (23%) 8-10 (34%)

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Chronic Pain in America – 1999Roadblocks to Relief

Chronic Pain in America – 1999Roadblocks to Relief

• 51% seeing primary care physician

• 2/3 have lived with pain for 5+ years

• 78% reported daily pain

• 10% admit to turning to alcohol for pain relief

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Attitudes and Beliefs 2002Attitudes and Beliefs 2002N = 1439 Patients with chronic pain, taking an opioid at least 4 months

Most commonly reported: arthritis, low back pain, migraine, cancer

Analgesics: C-II 638; CIII-V 1125; NSAIDs 1398; APAP 820

VPE Ranges (1-10): 1-3 11%; 4-7 67%; 8-10 22%

Pain Controlled? Well 18%, Sometimes 62%, Not 20%

Well Controlled: 39% 3+ MDs and 38% took 6 months + to get control

Not Controlled: 65% 3+ MDs and 92% have been trying 9+ months

  

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Attitudes and Beliefs 2002Attitudes and Beliefs 2002

“Patients do not have trouble obtaining needed pain medicines.”

54% Disagree

“I have not experienced any problems getting treatment for my pain.”

35% Disagree

  

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Attitudes and Beliefs 2002Attitudes and Beliefs 2002Imagine that a patient was taking a pain medication for 6 months and suddenly stopped taking it. As a result of not taking the medication they experienced nausea, sweats, had difficulty sleeping, and felt tense and jittery. Based on this information, can you state conclusively that the patient is..?

1. Addicted to the medication

2. Physically dependent on the medication

3. Both addicted and physically dependent on the medication

4. Neither addicted nor physically dependent on the medication

5. Not sure  

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Attitudes and Beliefs 2002Attitudes and Beliefs 2002Imagine that a patient was taking a pain medication for 6 months and suddenly stopped taking it. As a result of not taking the medication they experienced nausea, sweats, had difficulty sleeping, and felt tense and jittery. Based on this information, can you state conclusively that the patient is..?

1. Addicted to the medication

2. Physically dependent on the medication

3. Both addicted and physically dependent on the medication

4. Neither addicted nor physically dependent on the medication

5. Not sure  

16%

37%

35%

2%

10%

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AddictionAddiction

Addiction is a primary, chronic, neurobiologic disease, with genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestations. It is characterized by behaviors that include one or more of the following: impaired control over drug use, compulsive use, continued use despite harm, and craving.

AAPM, ASAM, APS -- 2001

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Physical DependencePhysical Dependence

Physical dependence is a state of adaptation that is manifested by a drug class specific withdrawal syndrome that can be produced by abrupt cessation, rapid dose reduction, decreasing blood level of the drug, and / or administration of an antagonist.

AAPM, ASAM, APS -- 2001

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Integrated Treatment Approach for Chronic Pain

Integrated Treatment Approach for Chronic Pain

IndividualizedCare Plan

Physical Therapy

RehabilitationServices

Nerve Blocks, etc

Surgery

Pharmacotherapy Therapy forComorbidities

BehavioralTherapies

CognitiveTherapies

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Prescription MedicationPrescription Medication

• Appropriate Use:

– Patients with pain / legitimate need

• Inappropriate Use:

– Abusers / Diverters

• No reliable, nationally representative

statistics on Rx medication abuse -- NIDA

Press Conference

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Prescription Drug DiversionPrescription Drug Diversion

• “Doctor Shoppers”

– Organized or “sole proprietor”

– Abuse, traffic or both

• Prescription Fraud

– Altered, forged, counterfeit

• Theft

– Patients, pharmacies

• Prescribers

– Dated, Duped, Dishonest, Disabled

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Prescription Drug Abuse and Diversion

Prescription Drug Abuse and Diversion

Public Health Ramifications:

• Experimentation in naïve persons

• Mixing multiple drugs and alcohol

• Substance abuse

• Impacting access for patients with pain

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Integrated Approach to Ensuring Proper Use and Curbing Abuse with Opioid Therapy

Integrated Approach to Ensuring Proper Use and Curbing Abuse with Opioid Therapy

OptimalPublic Health

Statutes / Regulation

Risk ManagementPlans

Education / Prevention

NCE’s &New Formulations

Improved Practice Surveillance /Interventions

Access toAddiction Treatment

Law Enforcement

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Risk Management Plans:An Evolving Practice

Risk Management Plans:An Evolving Practice

• Scheduling

• Labeling

• Education of Health Care Professionals

• Education of Patients and Caregivers

• Surveillance Activities

• Stepped Interventions

• Outcomes Assessment

• Re-assessment, Re-emphasis, Revision

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Balancing the Need to Treat Chronic Pain While Limiting Abuse

Balancing the Need to Treat Chronic Pain While Limiting Abuse

• Government

– Encouraging education about pain care and addiction

– Class labeling

– Law enforcement

• Industry

– Encouraging education about pain care and addiction

– Risk communication

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Anti-Diversion InformationAnti-Diversion Information

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“VOID”appearson photocopiedor scannedblanks

Tamper-Resistant Prescription Pad

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Balancing the Need to Treat Chronic Pain While Limiting Abuse

Balancing the Need to Treat Chronic Pain While Limiting Abuse

• Government

– Assist with data collection and interpretation on pain, abuse, addiction, diversion

– Promulgating model State statutes

• Industry

– Develop and administer product specific risk management plans

– Develop progressively abuse resistant formulations

– Discovery research

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• Objective: Develop more robust and reliable indicators of diversion or abuse than current publicly accessible databases

• Rate estimations on abuse and diversion of specific pharmaceuticals

• Earlier signal detection

The

Researched Abuse, Diversion and

Addiction-Related Surveillance (RADARS)

System™

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Balancing the Need to Treat Chronic Pain While Limiting Abuse

Balancing the Need to Treat Chronic Pain While Limiting Abuse

• Health Practitioners

– Learn about pain care and addiction

– Support model State statutes

– Prescribe carefully

• Academia

– Educate about pain care and addiction

– Research best educational practices

– Research best care practices

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Summary - ISummary - I

• There is a significant burden of unnecessary suffering from chronic pain in the US.

• Opioids have a significant role in therapy.

• Opioids have a recognized abuse potential.

• Product specific risk management plans can reduce abuse.

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Summary - IISummary - II

• Improvements can and should be made in the assessment and treatment of both pain and substance abuse.

• Better data are needed on the prevalence and characteristics of pain, and abuse, addiction, & diversion of Rx medications.

• The most cogent approach to protecting patient access to opioids is a multilateral, integrated strategy, based on data.

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Conclusion - IConclusion - I

• To ensure access to effective and appropriate care for patients with pain,

• Curb abuse,

• Diagnose and treat addiction, and

• Prevent diversion,

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Conclusion - IIConclusion - II• Regulators,

• Health care professionals,

• Law enforcement officials,

• Industry,

• Educators,

• Legislators,

• The Public,

• Must engage in active dialog, respecting differing viewpoints and varying experiences to optimize public health.