Drug and alcohol dependence | 2021
The release of abuse-deterrent OxyContin and adolescent heroin use.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE\nTo determine the association between the abuse-deterrent reformulation of OxyContin and adolescent lifetime heroin use in the United States.\n\n\nMETHODS\nThe quasi-experimental study uses individual survey data from the 1999-2019 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System to examine whether the reformulation of OxyContin in August 2010 affected adolescent lifetime heroin use, exploiting heterogeneity in state-level rates of OxyContin misuse before the reformulation. Multiple regression analysis adjusted for state and year fixed effects, adolescent demographics, and time-varying state characteristics and policies.\n\n\nRESULTS\nThe release of the abuse-deterrent reformulation of OxyContin was associated with a reduction in adolescents reporting ever using heroin. An adolescent in a state with a one percentage point higher state-level rate of pre-reformulation OxyContin misuse was 1.7% points less likely to report ever using heroin after the reformulation (95% confidence interval, [(CI)\xa0=\xa0-0.007, -0.027]). These effects are strongest for adolescent males (estimate: -0.028, [(CI)\xa0=\xa0-0.016, 0.040]) and non-whites (estimate: -0.021, [(CI)\xa0=\xa0-0.005, -0.037]).\n\n\nCONCLUSIONS\nThese results suggest the release of abuse-deterrent OxyContin is associated with a decrease in the likelihood of adolescent lifetime heroin use in states with higher pre-reformulation rates of OxyContin misuse. Pharmaceutical innovations and policies that reduce the likelihood of prescription opioid misuse may be effective in reducing adolescent lifetime heroin use.