Association of Lifetime History of Traumatic Brain Injury With Prescription Opioid Use and Misuse Among Adults. Issue 5 (September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Adams, Rachel Sayko; Corrigan, John D.; Ritter, Grant A.; Hagemeyer, Abby; Pliskin, Madeline B.; Reif, Sharon
• Other Names: Adams Rachel Sayko section editor.
• Is Part Of: Journal of head trauma rehabilitation. Volume 36:Issue 5(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-09
• Subjects: Ohio -- opioid misuse -- prescription opioids -- traumatic brain injury; Brain damage -- Patients -- Rehabilitation -- Periodicals; Brain damage -- Periodicals; 617.4810443
• DOI: 10.1097/HTR.0000000000000729
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0885-9701

Abstract

Abstract : Objective: To investigate associations of lifetime history of traumatic brain injury (TBI) with prescription opioid use and misuse among noninstitutionalized adults. Participants: Ohio Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) participants in the 2018 cohort who completed the prescription opioid and lifetime history of TBI modules ( n = 3448). Design: Secondary analyses of a statewide population-based cross-sectional survey. Main Measures: Self-report of a lifetime history of TBI using an adaptation of the Ohio State University TBI-Identification Method. Self-report of past year: (1) prescription pain medication use (ie, prescription opioid use); and (2) prescription opioid misuse, defined as using opioids more frequently or in higher doses than prescribed and/or using a prescription opioid not prescribed to the respondent. Results: In total, 22.8% of adults in the sample screened positive for a lifetime history of TBI. A quarter (25.5%) reported past year prescription opioid use, and 3.1% met criteria for prescription opioid misuse. A lifetime history of TBI was associated with increased odds of both past year prescription opioid use (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.52; 95% CI, 1.27-1.83; P < .01) and prescription opioid misuse (AOR = 1.65; 95% CI, 1.08-2.52; P < .05), controlling for sex, age, race/ethnicity, and marital status. Conclusion: Results from this study support the "perfect storm" hypothesis—that persons with a history of TBI are at an increased risk for exposure to prescription opioids and advancing to prescription opioid misuse compared with those without a history of TBI. Routine screening for a lifetime history of TBI may help target efforts to prevent opioid misuse among adults.