Abstract
Background: Since 2010, tamper‐deterrent long‐acting oxycodone has been available in both the USA and Canada. However generic, non‐tamper‐deterrent brands of oxycodone were only introduced in Canada.
Objectives: We aimed to determine if the availability of non‐tamper‐deterrent oxycodone in Canada led to increased sales from Canadian pharmacies close to the USA border, which might be indicative of cross‐border trafficking.
Methods: Using the IMS Brogan Geographic Prescription Monitor database, we conducted an analysis of long‐acting oxycodone dispensing trends in Canadian community pharmacies in geographic areas contiguous with 113 Canada–USA border crossings between 1st February 2012 and 31st January 2014.
Results: Over the study period, 8 507 882 long‐acting oxycodone tablets were dispensed by Canadian pharmacies in regions close to the US border. Following the introduction of generic long‐acting oxycodone, the rate of long‐acting oxycodone dispensing reduced in the border regions of the most populous provinces, Ontario British Columbia and Quebec, and rose slightly in Manitoba (4.4%) and New Brunswick (3.6%). Long‐acting oxycodone dispensing rates rose by 45.5% in the border regions of Alberta and 92.3% in Saskatchewan; however, only 3341 long‐acting oxycodone tablets dispensed were for the generic non‐tamper‐deterrent formulations. Examination of the dispensing patterns in 50 border areas after the marketing of non‐tamper‐deterrent oxycodone brands in Canada revealed no patterns suggestive of trafficking.
Conclusions: There were no large increases in the dispensing rates of prescriptions for generic non‐tamper‐deterrent long‐acting oxycodone in Canadian pharmacies close to 113 Canada–US border crossings such as were seen at the Detroit Windsor Tunnel after the withdrawal of OxyContin in the USA in 2010.
Objectives: We aimed to determine if the availability of non‐tamper‐deterrent oxycodone in Canada led to increased sales from Canadian pharmacies close to the USA border, which might be indicative of cross‐border trafficking.
Methods: Using the IMS Brogan Geographic Prescription Monitor database, we conducted an analysis of long‐acting oxycodone dispensing trends in Canadian community pharmacies in geographic areas contiguous with 113 Canada–USA border crossings between 1st February 2012 and 31st January 2014.
Results: Over the study period, 8 507 882 long‐acting oxycodone tablets were dispensed by Canadian pharmacies in regions close to the US border. Following the introduction of generic long‐acting oxycodone, the rate of long‐acting oxycodone dispensing reduced in the border regions of the most populous provinces, Ontario British Columbia and Quebec, and rose slightly in Manitoba (4.4%) and New Brunswick (3.6%). Long‐acting oxycodone dispensing rates rose by 45.5% in the border regions of Alberta and 92.3% in Saskatchewan; however, only 3341 long‐acting oxycodone tablets dispensed were for the generic non‐tamper‐deterrent formulations. Examination of the dispensing patterns in 50 border areas after the marketing of non‐tamper‐deterrent oxycodone brands in Canada revealed no patterns suggestive of trafficking.
Conclusions: There were no large increases in the dispensing rates of prescriptions for generic non‐tamper‐deterrent long‐acting oxycodone in Canadian pharmacies close to 113 Canada–US border crossings such as were seen at the Detroit Windsor Tunnel after the withdrawal of OxyContin in the USA in 2010.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 240 |
| Pages (from-to) | 134-135 |
| Number of pages | 2 |
| Journal | Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety |
| Volume | 24 |
| Issue number | S1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 25 Sept 2015 |
| Externally published | Yes |
| Event | The 31st International Conference on Pharmacoepidemiology and Therapeutic Risk Management - Boston, United States Duration: 22 Aug 2016 → 26 Aug 2016 Conference number: 31st |