Opioid use disorder (OUD) can happen to anyone, including residents of long-term care facilities.

“I’m getting a lot more inquiries about opioid addiction,” said Janis K. Russell, PharmD, MBA, Manager of Clinical Operations at PharMerica. This isn’t surprising as, according to recent data, opioid-related hospitalizations among adults 65 years and older increased by 34% from 2010 to 2015 alone, and long-term opioid use is currently estimated at about 15%.

Numerous factors can contribute to OUD among long-term care residents. These include history of addiction or substance abuse and the accumulation of multiple pain disorders. According to one study from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, about three-quarters of a long-term care resident sample had at least one opioid prescription during their initial stay. Frequently, these prescriptions were started before their admission. At the same time, many residents had their opioid prescriptions discontinued prior to discharge. However, around one-fourth of all discharged patients had a retail claim for one or more of these drugs within seven days of leaving the facility.

While not everyone exposed to opioid treatment will develop OUD, the prevalence of opioid use within the industry means the potential for OUD issues can’t be ignored. Combatting OUD begins with recognizing the signs and symptoms of opioid abuse as well as factors that confer heightened risk for the disorder.