Experiencing violence as a predictor of drug use relapse among former drug users in Baltimore, Maryland

Stimulant use among patients in opioid treatment settings: Provider perspectives

INTRODUCTION

Methadone maintenance therapy (MMT) has been a pillar of opioid addiction treatment. Opioid treatment programs (OTPs) have been faced with an escalating threat of stimulant use and related overdose deaths among patients. We know little about how providers currently address stimulant use while maintaining treatment for opioid use disorder.

METHODS

We conducted 5 focus groups with 36 providers (n = 11 prescribers; 25 behavioral health staff), and collected an additional 46 surveys (n = 7 prescribers; 12 administrators; 27 behavioral health staff). Questions focused on perceptions of patient stimulant use and interventions. We applied inductive analysis to identify themes relevant to identification of stimulant use, use trends, intervention approaches, and perceived needs to improve care.

RESULTS

Providers indicated a trend of rising stimulant use among patients, especially those experiencing homelessness or comorbid health conditions. They reported a range of approaches to patient screening and intervention, including medication and harm reduction, improving treatment engagement, increasing level of care, and providing incentives. Providers expressed less agreement as to which of these interventions were effective, and though providers saw stimulant use as a common and severe problem, they reported little problem recognition and interest in treatment from their patients. A particular concern of providers was the prevalence and danger of synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl. They sought more research and resources to identify effective interventions and medications to address these issues. Also notable was an interest in contingency management (CM) and use of reinforcements/rewards to encourage stimulant use reduction.

CONCLUSION

Providers face challenges in treating patients who use both opioids and stimulants. Although methadone is available to treat opioid use, no such "silver bullet" exists for stimulant use disorder. The rise in stimulant and synthetic opioid (e.g., fentanyl) combination products is presenting an extraordinary challenge for providers whose patients are at unprecedented risk for overdose. Providing OTPs with more resources to address polysubstance use is critical. Existing research indicates strong support for CM in OTPs, but providers reported regulatory and financial barriers to implementation. Further research should develop effective interventions that are accessible to providers in OTPs.

Does Prison Crowding Predict Higher Rates of Substance Use Related Parole Violations? A Recurrent Events Multi-Level Survival Analysis

Objective

This administrative data-linkage cohort study examines the association between prison crowding and the rate of post-release parole violations in a random sample of prisoners released with parole conditions in California, for an observation period of two years (January 2003 through December 2004).

Background

Crowding overextends prison resources needed to adequately protect inmates and provide drug rehabilitation services. Violence and lack of access to treatment are known risk factors for drug use and substance use disorders. These and other psychosocial effects of crowding may lead to higher rates of recidivism in California parolees.

Methods

Rates of parole violation for parolees exposed to high and medium levels of prison crowding were compared to parolees with low prison crowding exposure. Hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using a Cox model for recurrent events. Our dataset included 13070 parolees in California, combining individual level parolee data with aggregate level crowding data for multilevel analysis.

Results

Comparing parolees exposed to high crowding with those exposed to low crowding, the effect sizes from greatest to least were absconding violations (HR 3.56 95% CI: 3.05–4.17), drug violations (HR 2.44 95% CI: 2.00–2.98), non-violent violations (HR 2.14 95% CI: 1.73–2.64), violent and serious violations (HR 1.88 95% CI: 1.45–2.43), and technical violations (HR 1.86 95% CI: 1.37–2.53).

Conclusions

Prison crowding predicted higher rates of parole violations after release from prison. The effect was magnitude-dependent and particularly strong for drug charges. Further research into whether adverse prison experiences, such as crowding, are associated with recidivism and drug use in particular may be warranted.

Risk factors for stimulant use among homeless and unstably housed adult women

BACKGROUND

One of the most common causes of death among homeless and unstably housed women is acute intoxication where cocaine is present. While correlates of stimulant use have been determined in prior research, few studies have assessed risk factors of use specifically in this high-risk population.

METHODS

We sampled biological women with a history of housing instability from community-based venues to participate in a cohort study. Baseline and 6-month follow-up data were used to determine the relative risk of stimulant use (crack cocaine, powder cocaine or methamphetamine) among individuals who did not use at baseline.

RESULTS

Among 260 study participants, the median age was 47 years, 70% were women of color; 47% reported having unmet subsistence needs and 53% reported abstinence from stimulants at baseline. In analyses adjusting for baseline sociodemographics and drug treatment, the risk of using stimulants within 6 months was significantly higher among women who reported recent sexual violence (Adjusted Relative Risk [ARR]=4.31; 95% CI:1.97-9.45), sleeping in a shelter or public place (ARR=2.75; 95% CI:1.15-6.57), and using unprescribed opioid analgesics (ARR=2.54; 95% CI:1.01-6.38).

CONCLUSION

We found that almost half of homeless and unstably housed women used stimulants at baseline and 14% of those who did not use began within 6 months. Addressing homelessness and sexual violence is critical to reduce stimulant use among impoverished women.

Injection drug users' and their risk networks' experiences of and attitudes towards drug dealer violence in Baltimore, Maryland

BACKGROUND

A large portion of violence associated with drug use is due to drug dealing. These analyses sought to examine injection drug users' attitudes and experiences of drug dealer violence.

METHODS

The current study used the 18-month follow up data of STEP into Action (STEP) study, an HIV prevention intervention among drug injectors and their risk network members conducted in Baltimore, Maryland. Four scales assessed acceptability of drug dealer violence, willingness to talk to drug users about avoiding drug dealer violence, social norms about reporting drug dealer violence and intentions to report drug dealer violence to the police.

RESULTS

Many (44%) of the 373 participants reported witnessing drug dealers' acts of violence within the prior 6 months. Although the majority of participants disagreed with statements on the acceptability of dealers using violence, only a minority indicated that they would call the police if they observed dealer violence. Most participants indicated that they would be interested in talking to drug users about how to avoid violent dealers. Males were more likely to report that violence was acceptable, whereas African Americans were less likely to condone violence. Those who were homeless and had higher incomes were more likely to report witnessing drug dealer violence.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that it may be feasible to train current and former drug users and their risk network members in methods to promote violence reduction among drug dealers.