The Vicodin abuse problem: A mathematical approach
[1];
- Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States); Arizona State Univ., Tempe, AZ (United States)
- North Carolina State Univ., Raleigh, NC (United States)
- Southern Illinois Univ., Edwardsville, IL (United States)
- Georgia Dept. of Behavioral Health & Developmental Disabilities, Atlanta, GA (United States)
- Arizona State Univ., Glendale, AZ (United States)
The prescription drug epidemic in the United States has gained attention recently. Vicodin, along with its generic version, is the country’s mostly widely prescribed pain reliever, and it contains a narcotic component that can lead to physical and chemical dependency. Most Vicodin abusers were first introduced via prescription, unlike other drugs which are often experienced for the first time due to experimentation. Most abusers report obtaining their supply from a prescription, either their own or someone else’s. Although the problem with prescription drug abuse is well known, there is no standard method of addressing the problem. To better understand how to do this, we develop and analyze a mathematical model of Vicodin use and abuse, considering only those patients who were initially prescribed the drug. Through global sensitivity analysis, we show that focusing efforts on abuse prevention rather than treatment has greater success at reducing the population of Vicodin abusers. Our results demonstrate that relying solely on rehabilitation and other treatment programs is not enough to combat the prescription drug problem in the United States. We anticipate that implementing preventative measures in both prescribers and patients will reduce the number of Vicodin abusers.
- Research Organization:
- Los Alamos National Lab. (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); Mathematical and Theoretical Biology Institute; National Science Foundation (NSF); National Security Agency (NSA)
- Grant/Contract Number:
- 89233218CNA000001
- OSTI ID:
- 1565854
- Alternate ID(s):
- OSTI ID: 1716786
- Report Number(s):
- LA-UR-18-26963; LA-UR-17-29830
- Journal Information:
- Journal of Theoretical Biology, Vol. 483, Issue C; ISSN 0022-5193
- Publisher:
- ElsevierCopyright Statement
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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