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Abadie R, Fisher CB. "It didn't hurt me": patients' and providers' perspectives on unsupervised take-home doses, drug diversion, and overdose risks in the provision of medication for opioid use disorder during COVID-19 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Harm Reduct J 2024; 21:85. [PMID: 38664796 PMCID: PMC11044400 DOI: 10.1186/s12954-024-01006-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND During the COVID-19 pandemic, clinics offering medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) needed to rapidly introduce unsupervised take-home dosing, while relapsing patients and patients unable to enter treatment faced increased risks of fentanyl-related overdose deaths and other drug-related harms. Based on a qualitative study of people who inject drugs (PWID) receiving MOUD treatment and MOUD staff in Puerto Rico, this paper documents the lived experiences of patients and providers during this period and the risk perceptions and management strategies to address substance misuse and drug diversion attributable to unsupervised take-home-dose delivery. METHODS In-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with patients (N = 25) and staff (N = 25) in two clinics providing MOUD in San Juan, Puerto Rico, during 2022. Patients and staff were receiving or providing treatment during the pandemic, and patients reported injection drug use during the past thirty days. RESULTS Patients were overwhelmingly male (84%), unmarried (72%), and unemployed (52%), with almost half (44%) injecting one to three times a day. Mean time in treatment was 7 years. Staff had a mean age of 46 years with more than half of the sample (63%) female. The majority of patients believed that unsupervised take-home dosing had no significant effect on their treatment adherence or engagement. In contrast, providers expressed concerns over the potential for drug diversion and possible increased risks of patient attrition, overdose episodes, and poor treatment outcomes. CONCLUSION This study underscores the importance of insider perspectives on harm-reduction changes in policy implemented during a health crisis. Of note is the finding that staff disagreed among themselves regarding the potential harms of diversion and changes in drug testing protocols. These different perspectives are important to address so that future pandemic policies are successfully designed and implemented. Our study also illuminates disagreement in risk assessments between patients and providers. This suggests that preparation for emergency treatment plans requires enhanced communication with patients to match treatments to the context of lived experience.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Abadie
- School of Global and Integrative Studies, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 839 Oldfather Hall, Lincoln, NE, 68588, USA.
| | - Celia B Fisher
- Center for Ethics Education, Fordham University, Rose Hill Campus, Dealy Hall, Room 117, New York City, NY, 10023, USA
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Amundsen EJ, Melsom AKM, Eriksen BO, Løchen ML. No decline in drug overdose deaths in Norway: An ecological approach to understanding at-risk groups and the impact of interventions. NORDIC STUDIES ON ALCOHOL AND DRUGS 2024; 41:111-130. [PMID: 38356787 PMCID: PMC10863554 DOI: 10.1177/14550725231195413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Aim: This Norwegian case study examines groups at risk of drug overdose deaths, evidence-based harm reduction interventions, low-threshold services and treatment implemented, as well as trends in drug overdose deaths between 2010 and 2021. We aimed to explore the relevance of interventions for at-risk groups and discuss their potential impact on drug overdose trends. Method/data: Using an ecological approach, we analysed the following: (1) groups identified through latent profile analysis (LPA) among a sample of 413 high-risk drug users collected in 2010-2012, supplemented with other relevant studies up to 2021; (2) published information on harm-reduction interventions, low-threshold services and treatment in Norway; and (3) nationwide drug overdose mortality figures supplemented with published articles on the topic. Results: High-risk drug users in 2010-2012 commonly engaged in frequent illegal drug use, injecting and poly-drug use (including pharmaceutical opioids), which continued into following decade. The interventions implemented between 2010 and 2021 were relevant for at-risk groups identified in the surveys. However, there was no decrease in the trend of drug overdose deaths up to 2021. While relevant interventions may have mitigated a theoretical increase in mortality, new at-risk groups may have contributed to fatal outcomes associated with pharmaceutical opioids. Conclusion: The interventions were relevant to the risk groups identified among high-risk drug users and potentially effective in preventing an increase in drug overdose trends. However, tailored interventions are needed for individuals at risk of death from prescribed opioids. Comprehensive studies encompassing all at-risk populations, including both legal and non-medical users of prescription opioids, are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen J Amundsen
- Department of Alcohol, Tobacco and Drugs, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Anne-Karine M Melsom
- Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway; Centre for Clinical Research and Education, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Bjørn O Eriksen
- Section of Nephrology, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway; Metabolic and Renal Research Group, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Maja-Lisa Løchen
- Department of Cardiology, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway; Department of Clinical Medicine, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Tromsø, Norway
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Estadt AT, Miller WC, Kline D, Whitney BM, Young AM, Todd Korthuis P, Stopka TJ, Feinberg J, Zule WA, Pho MT, Friedmann PD, Westergaard RP, Eagen KV, Seaman A, Ma J, Go VF, Lancaster KE. Associations of hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody positivity with opioid, stimulant, and polysubstance injection among people who inject drugs (PWID) in rural U.S. communities. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2023:104222. [PMID: 37806839 PMCID: PMC10997735 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2023.104222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND People who inject drugs (PWID) in the rural U.S. often inject stimulants, alone or with opioids. The impact of these substance use patterns may influence HCV risk behaviors. This analysis examines the associations of HCV antibody positivity with injecting only opioids, only stimulants (methamphetamine/cocaine), and opioids and stimulants together among rural PWID. METHODS The Rural Opioid Initiative (ROI) consists of eight research sites that enrolled people who use drugs in rural communities in ten U.S. states from 2018 to 2020. This cross-sectional analysis included adult participants who resided in a study area and injected any drug in the past 30 days. The primary outcome was HCV antibody positivity. The exposure of interest was injection drug use classified as only opioids, only stimulants, separate injections of opioids and stimulants, and same-syringe injection of both in the past 30 days. We used multivariable log-binomial regression with generalized linear mixed models to generate prevalence ratios (P.R.) adjusted for demographics, injection history, health insurance, and substance use treatment. RESULTS Among 3,084 participants enrolled in the ROI, 1,982 met inclusion criteria. Most participants injected opioids and stimulants in the same syringe (34%) or separately (21%), followed by injecting only stimulants (26%), and injecting only opioids (19%). Half (51%) were HCV antibody positive. Compared to people who injected only stimulants, HCV antibody positivity was more prevalent among people who injected opioids alone (aPR=1.62, 95% CI:(1.29-2.03)), injected both opioids and stimulants separately (aPR=1.61, 95% CI:(1.32-1.95)), and in the same syringe (aPR=1.54, 95% CI:(1.28-1.85)). CONCLUSION HCV antibody positivity, indicating prior exposure, was highest among those who had recently injected opioids, alone or with stimulants. Additional nucleic acid testing is necessary to confirm active infection. More research is needed to determine the underlying causes of HCV antibody positivity by injection use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela T Estadt
- Ohio State University, College of Public Health, Division of Epidemiology, United States.
| | - William C Miller
- Ohio State University, College of Public Health, Division of Epidemiology, United States; Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - David Kline
- Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Division of Public Health Sciences, Department of Biostatistics and Data Science, United States
| | | | - April M Young
- University of Kentucky, Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, Center on Drug and Alcohol Research, United States
| | - P Todd Korthuis
- Oregon Health & Science University, Department of Medicine, Section of Addiction Medicine, United States
| | - Thomas J Stopka
- Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, United States
| | - Judith Feinberg
- West Virginia University School of Medicine, Departments of Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry and Medicine/Infectious Diseases, United States
| | - William A Zule
- RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Mai T Pho
- University of Chicago, Department of Medicine, United States
| | - Peter D Friedmann
- University of Massachusetts Medical School-Baystate and Baystate Health, United States
| | - Ryan P Westergaard
- University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, United States
| | - Kellene V Eagen
- University of Wisconsin - Madison, School of Medicine and Public Health, Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, United States
| | - Andrew Seaman
- Oregon Health & Science University, School of Medicine, United States
| | - Jimmy Ma
- University of Washington, Department of Medicine, Division of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, United States
| | - Vivian F Go
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Gillings School of Global Public Health, Department of Health Behavior, United States
| | - Kathryn E Lancaster
- Ohio State University, College of Public Health, Division of Epidemiology, United States; Division of Public Health Sciences, Department of Implementation Science, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States of America
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Bennett SJ, Davila CA, Reyes Z, Valentín-Acevedo A, Carrasco KG, Abadie R, Marlin MC, Beel M, Chapple AG, Fernando S, Guthridge JM, Chiou KS, Dombrowski K, West JT, Wood C. Immune profiling in Puerto Rican injection drug users with and without HIV-1 infection. J Leukoc Biol 2023; 114:142-153. [PMID: 37042743 PMCID: PMC10776106 DOI: 10.1093/jleuko/qiad045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Antiretroviral therapy has been effective in suppressing HIV viral load and enabling people living with HIV to experience longer, more conventional lives. However, as people living with HIV are living longer, they are developing aging-related diseases prematurely and are more susceptible to comorbidities that have been linked to chronic inflammation. Coincident with HIV infection and aging, drug abuse has also been independently associated with gut dysbiosis, microbial translocation, and inflammation. Here, we hypothesized that injection drug use would exacerbate HIV-induced immune activation and inflammation, thereby intensifying immune dysfunction. We recruited 50 individuals not using injection drugs (36/50 HIV+) and 47 people who inject drugs (PWID, 12/47 HIV+). All but 3 of the HIV+ subjects were on antiretroviral therapy. Plasma immune profiles were characterized by immunoproteomics, and cellular immunophenotypes were assessed using mass cytometry. The immune profiles of HIV+/PWID-, HIV-/PWID+, and HIV+/PWID+ were each significantly different from controls; however, few differences between these groups were detected, and only 3 inflammatory mediators and 2 immune cell populations demonstrated a combinatorial effect of injection drug use and HIV infection. In conclusion, a comprehensive analysis of inflammatory mediators and cell immunophenotypes revealed remarkably similar patterns of immune dysfunction in HIV-infected individuals and in people who inject drugs with and without HIV-1 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sydney J. Bennett
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, 1104 T St, Lincoln, NE 68588, United States
- Department of Interdisciplinary Oncology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Louisiana Cancer Research Center, 1700 Tulane Ave, New Orleans, LA 70112, United States
| | - Carmen Ana Davila
- Department of Sociology, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, 660 N 12th St, Lincoln, NE 68588, United States
| | - Zahiraliz Reyes
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Universidad Central del Caribe, PO Box 60327, Bayamón, Puerto Rico 00960, United States
| | - Aníbal Valentín-Acevedo
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Universidad Central del Caribe, PO Box 60327, Bayamón, Puerto Rico 00960, United States
| | - Kim Gocchi Carrasco
- Department of Sociology, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, 660 N 12th St, Lincoln, NE 68588, United States
| | - Roberto Abadie
- Department of Sociology, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, 660 N 12th St, Lincoln, NE 68588, United States
| | - M. Caleb Marlin
- Arthritis & Clinical Immunology, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, 825 NE 13th St, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, United States
| | - Marci Beel
- Arthritis & Clinical Immunology, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, 825 NE 13th St, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, United States
| | - Andrew G. Chapple
- Department of Interdisciplinary Oncology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Louisiana Cancer Research Center, 1700 Tulane Ave, New Orleans, LA 70112, United States
| | - Samodha Fernando
- Department of Animal Science, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, 3940 Fair St, Lincoln, NE 68503, United States
| | - Joel M. Guthridge
- Arthritis & Clinical Immunology, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, 825 NE 13th St, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, United States
- Department of Pathology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, 940 Stanton L. Young Blvd, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, United States
| | - Kathy S. Chiou
- Department of Psychology, University of Nebraska–Lincoln, 1220 T St, Lincoln, NE 68588, United States
| | - Kirk Dombrowski
- University of Vermont, 5 South Prospect St, Burlington, VT 05405, United States
| | - John T. West
- Department of Interdisciplinary Oncology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Louisiana Cancer Research Center, 1700 Tulane Ave, New Orleans, LA 70112, United States
| | - Charles Wood
- Department of Interdisciplinary Oncology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Louisiana Cancer Research Center, 1700 Tulane Ave, New Orleans, LA 70112, United States
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Abadie R. "I don't want to die": a qualitative study of coping strategies to prevent fentanyl-related overdose deaths among people who inject drugs and its implications for harm reduction policies. Harm Reduct J 2023; 20:75. [PMID: 37316884 PMCID: PMC10264884 DOI: 10.1186/s12954-023-00805-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fentanyl and fentanyl-related analogues are the main drivers of overdose death in the USA, particularly among people who inject drugs (PWID). Despite the fact that non-Hispanic whites exhibit higher population rates of synthetic opioid mortality, overdose deaths have increased among African American and Latinos in urban areas. Yet little attention has been paid to the introduction of fentanyl among rural PWID in Puerto Rico. METHODS We conducted N = 38 in-depth interviews with PWID in rural Puerto Rico to document participants' experiences of injection drug use after the arrival of fentanyl and the strategies they implemented to manage overdose death risks. RESULTS Participants suggest that the arrival of fentanyl in large scale happened after Hurricane Maria in 2017; this coincided with a dramatic increase in overdose episodes and deaths. Fear of overdose deaths motivated some participants to substitute intravenous drug use for other forms of substance use or to seek MOUD. PWID that continued injection use resorted to conducting "hit tests," avoiding injecting alone, using naloxone, and employing fentanyl testing strips. CONCLUSIONS While overdose deaths would have been higher without participants' willingness to adopt harm-reduction strategies, this paper illustrates the limits of these policies to address the current epidemic of fentanyl-related overdose deaths among this population. More studies are needed to understand how health disparities shape overdose risks for minority populations. However, major policy changes, in particular the revision of the harmful role of the War on Drugs and the termination of failed neoliberal economic policies that contribute to deaths of despair, should be addressed if we are to make a dent in this epidemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Abadie
- Department of Anthropology, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, 839 Oldfather Hall, Lincoln, NE, 68588, USA.
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Colón-López V, Alvelo-Fernández PM, Centeno-Alvarado N, Agudelo Salas IY, Rolón Colón Y, Pabón Martínez M, Rodríguez-Lebrón JL, Reyes-Pulliza JC. Seroprevalence and risk factors associated with hepatitis C: a cross-sectional study of persons who inject drugs in Puerto Rico, 2018. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:704. [PMID: 37072733 PMCID: PMC10111640 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-15341-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND People Who Inject Drugs (PWID) are at a higher risk of acquiring bloodborne infections. We aimed to estimate the seroprevalence of the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) in PWID and identify correlates and risk factors using data from the Puerto Rico National HIV Behavioral Surveillance System, PWID cycle 5, conducted in 2018. METHODS A total of 502 San Juan Metropolitan Statistical Area participants were recruited through the Respondent Driven Sampling method. Sociodemographic, health-related, and behavioral characteristics were assessed. Testing for HCV antibodies was completed after the face-to-face survey. Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were performed. RESULTS Overall seroprevalence of HCV was 76.5% (95% CI: 70.8-81.4%). A significantly (p < 0.05) higher HCV seroprevalence was observed among PWID with the following characteristics: heterosexuals (78.5%), high school graduates (81.3%), tested for sexually transmitted infections (STI) in the past 12 months (86.1%), frequent speedball injection (79.4%), and knowing the HCV serostatus of the last sharing partner (95.4%). Adjusted logistic regression models showed that having completed high school and reported STI testing in the past 12 months were significantly associated with HCV infection (ORa = 2.23; 95% CI: 1.06-4.69; ORa = 2.14; 95% CI: 1.06-4.30, respectively). CONCLUSIONS We report a high seroprevalence of HCV infection in PWID. Social health disparities and potential missed opportunities validate the continuing call for local action for public health and prevention strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivian Colón-López
- Cancer Control and Population Sciences Program, University of Puerto Rico Comprehensive Cancer Center, Primer Piso Oficina #151 Paseo José C. Barbosa San Juan, San Juan, 00935, Puerto Rico.
| | - Paola M Alvelo-Fernández
- Cancer Control and Population Sciences Program, University of Puerto Rico Comprehensive Cancer Center, Primer Piso Oficina #151 Paseo José C. Barbosa San Juan, San Juan, 00935, Puerto Rico
| | - Nadia Centeno-Alvarado
- Graduate School of Public Health, Medical Sciences Campus, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Ivony Y Agudelo Salas
- Graduate School of Public Health, Medical Sciences Campus, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - Yadira Rolón Colón
- HIV/AIDS Surveillance Program, Puerto Rico Department of Health, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | - María Pabón Martínez
- HIV/AIDS Surveillance Program, Puerto Rico Department of Health, San Juan, Puerto Rico
| | | | - Juan C Reyes-Pulliza
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, Medical Sciences Campus, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
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Karamouzian M, Pilarinos A, Hayashi K, Buxton JA, Kerr T. Latent patterns of polysubstance use among people who use opioids: A systematic review. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2022; 102:103584. [DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2022.103584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Revised: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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Cano M, Gelpí-Acosta C. Risk of Drug Overdose Mortality for Island-Born and US-Born Puerto Ricans, 2013-2019. J Racial Ethn Health Disparities 2021; 9:1403-1414. [PMID: 34081305 DOI: 10.1007/s40615-021-01077-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
In the United States (US), individuals of Puerto Rican heritage die of drug overdoses at higher rates than other Hispanic groups or non-Hispanic Whites; yet, little is known about the extent to which drug overdose mortality affects island-born, versus US-born, Puerto Ricans. The distinction between Puerto Rican-born and US-born provides a starting point for culturally tailored services and interventions, as place of birth often informs language preferences and cultural identifications. Therefore, this study analyzed 2013-2019 death certificate data from the National Center for Health Statistics for 415,111 US deaths attributed to drug overdose. Drug overdose deaths were compared for island-born Puerto Ricans (N=3516), US-born Puerto Ricans (N=4949), and individuals not of Puerto Rican heritage (N=406,646). Drug overdose mortality rates, including age-specific and directly age-standardized rates, were calculated for each subgroup using population estimates from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey. Results indicated that age-adjusted drug overdose mortality rates over the period of 2013-2019 were significantly higher for island-born than US-born Puerto Rican men (46.8 versus 34.6, per 100,000), with rates in both groups significantly higher than for men not of Puerto Rican heritage (24.0 per 100,000). For women, in contrast, drug overdose mortality rates were lower for island-born than US-born Puerto Ricans (8.6 versus 11.1, per 100,000). Within stateside Puerto Rican communities, island-born men experience a disproportionate burden of drug overdose mortality, necessitating targeted, culturally appropriate interventions built around the specific norms, circumstances, and lived experiences shared by Puerto Rican migrants who use drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Cano
- University of Texas at San Antonio, 501 W. César E. Chávez Blvd, San Antonio, TX, 78207, USA.
| | - Camila Gelpí-Acosta
- LaGuardia Community College, City University of New York, 31-10 Thomson Avenue, Long Island City, NY, 11101, USA
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Drug overdose mortality among stateside Puerto Ricans: Evidence of a health disparity. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2020; 90:103079. [PMID: 33341699 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2020.103079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Revised: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study compared drug overdose mortality rates in Puerto Rican-heritage and Non-Hispanic (NH) White individuals in the United States (US), examining time trends and recent variation by age, sex, state of residence, and drugs involved in overdose. METHODS Death certificate data from the National Center for Health Statistics, as well as American Community Survey population estimates, were used to calculate age-specific and age-adjusted drug overdose mortality rates for Puerto Rican-heritage and NH White residents of the 50 United States or District of Columbia (DC). Rates for 2018 were compared between Puerto Rican-heritage and NH White individuals, overall and by sex, age, state, and specific drug involved in overdose. Joinpoint Regression was used to examine trends in drug overdose mortality rates from 2009 to 2018. RESULTS From 2009 to 2018, the age-adjusted drug overdose mortality rate in stateside Puerto Ricans doubled among women (from 6.0 to 12.5 per 100,000) and nearly tripled among men (from 15.3 to 45.2 per 100,000). In 2018, the age-adjusted drug overdose mortality rate was significantly higher in Puerto Rican-heritage than NH White individuals (28.7 vs. 26.2 per 100,000, respectively). The 2018 drug overdose mortality rate was highest among Puerto Rican-heritage men ages 45-54 (104.1 per 100,000). CONCLUSION Findings emphasize the necessity of policies, programs, and interventions to mitigate risk of fatal overdose in stateside Puerto Rican communities.
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Mazahery C, Benson BL, Cruz-Lebrón A, Levine AD. Chronic Methadone Use Alters the CD8 + T Cell Phenotype In Vivo and Modulates Its Responsiveness Ex Vivo to Opioid Receptor and TCR Stimuli. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2020; 204:1188-1200. [PMID: 31969385 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1900862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2019] [Accepted: 12/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Endogenous opioid peptides are released at sites of injury, and their cognate G protein-coupled opioid receptors (ORs) are expressed on immune cells. Although drugs of misuse appropriate ORs, conflicting reports indicate immunostimulatory and immunosuppressive activity, in that opioid users have elevated infection risk, opioids activate innate immune cells, and opioids attenuate inflammation in murine T cell-mediated autoimmunity models. The i.v. use of drugs transmits bloodborne pathogens, particularly viruses, making the study of CD8+ T cells timely. From a cohort of nonuser controls and methadone users, we demonstrate, via t-Stochastic Neighbor Embedding and k-means cluster analysis of surface marker expression, that chronic opioid use alters human CD8+ T cell subset balance, with notable decreases in T effector memory RA+ cells. Studying global CD8+ T cell populations, there were no differences in expression of OR and several markers of functionality, demonstrating the need for finer analysis. Purified CD8+ T cells from controls respond to opioids ex vivo by increasing cytoplasmic calcium, a novel finding for OR signal transduction, likely because of cell lineage. CD8+ T cells from controls exposed to μ-OR agonists ex vivo decrease expression of activation markers CD69 and CD25, although the same markers are elevated in μ-OR-treated cells from methadone users. In contrast to control cells, T cell subsets from methadone users show decreased expression of CD69 and CD25 in response to TCR stimulus. Overall, these results indicate a direct, selective role for opioids in CD8+ T cell immune regulation via their ability to modulate cell responses through the opioid receptors and TCRs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Mazahery
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106
| | - Bryan L Benson
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106
| | - Angélica Cruz-Lebrón
- Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106
| | - Alan D Levine
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106; .,Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106.,Department of Pharmacology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106.,Department of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106.,Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106; and.,Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106
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11
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Novack LM, Carrasco KG, Tyler KA, Dombrowski K, Habecker P. Injection Opioid and Injection Methamphetamine Use in the Rural United States: A Systematic Review and Network Analysis. JOURNAL OF DRUG ISSUES 2019. [DOI: 10.1177/0022042619895247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The abuse of opioid and methamphetamine is a public health crisis in the United States, particularly in rural areas where injection drug use is common. This systematic review of rural injection drug use synthesized the research on injection of opioids and methamphetamine use and assessed the similarity of their research findings to the field of rural injection drug use in the United States. A citation network analysis was used to support the assessment of research similarity and provided a visualization of the field. This citation network analysis exposed a gap in the literature revealing that the state of research may not be fully applicable to the field in its entirety in the United States. In summary, this review provides a representative overview of the state of research in the field of injection drug use. Future research should conduct studies on rural drug use in areas of the country not represented in this review.
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12
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Othman S, Cohn JE, Toscano M, Shokri T, Zwillenberg S. Substance Use and Maxillofacial Trauma: A Comprehensive Patient Profile. J Oral Maxillofac Surg 2019; 78:235-240. [PMID: 31783005 DOI: 10.1016/j.joms.2019.10.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2019] [Revised: 10/14/2019] [Accepted: 10/25/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Maxillofacial trauma confers an increased risk of long-term clinical sequelae with a substantial economic burden on the health care system. Substance use has long been correlated with an increased risk of trauma, yet to date, a comprehensive profile of substance users incurring facial fractures has not been established. We aimed to establish patterns and trends of substance use and specific substances in the setting of maxillofacial trauma. PATIENTS AND METHODS A retrospective chart review was conducted at our institution examining patients with maxillofacial fractures from 2016 to 2017. Information on age, gender, race, urine drug screen status, setting of presentation, mechanism of injury, trauma history, and injury severity was collected and examined for associations with particular substances. RESULTS We included 388 patients for analysis. Patients with positive urine drug screen results were significantly more likely to be men, present in an urban setting, incur poly-facial trauma, and have a history of facial trauma. In addition, alcohol use correlated significantly with injury severity in the context of polytrauma. Living in an urban setting and using phencyclidine were both significantly associated with a history of maxillofacial trauma. CONCLUSIONS Patients with comorbid maxillofacial trauma and substance use exhibit particular patterns in presentation and history. Establishing a profile for these patients allows for the development of prevention and rehabilitation programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sammy Othman
- Medical Student, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA.
| | - Jason E Cohn
- Resident, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Michael Toscano
- Medical Student, New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, Glen Head, NY
| | - Tom Shokri
- Resident, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Penn State Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA
| | - Seth Zwillenberg
- Professor, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia, PA
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Cabrera FF, Gamarra ER, Garcia TE, Littlejohn AD, Chinga PA, Pinentel-Morillo LD, Tirado JR, Chung DY, Pande LJ, McCall KL, Nichols SD, Piper BJ. Opioid distribution trends (2006-2017) in the US Territories. PeerJ 2019; 7:e6272. [PMID: 30671308 PMCID: PMC6338096 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.6272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2018] [Accepted: 12/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The US mainland is experiencing an epidemic of opioid overdoses. Unfortunately, the US Territories (Guam, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands) have often been overlooked in opioid pharmacoepidemiology research. This study examined common prescription opioids over the last decade. Methods The United States Drug Enforcement Administration’s Automation of Reports and Consolidated Orders System (ARCOS) was used to report on ten medical opioids: buprenorphine, codeine, fentanyl, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, meperidine, methadone, morphine, oxycodone, and oxymorphone, by weight from 2006 to 2017. Florida and Hawaii were selected as comparison areas. Results Puerto Rico had the greatest Territorial oral morphine mg equivalent (MME) per capita (421.5) which was significantly higher (p < .005) than the Virgin Islands (139.2) and Guam (118.9) but significantly lower than that of Hawaii (794.6) or Florida (1,509.8). Methadone was the largest opioid by MMEs in 2017 in most municipalities, accounting for 41.1% of the total in the Virgin Islands, 37.9% in Florida, 36.6% in Hawaii but 80.8% in Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico and Florida showed pronounced differences in the distribution patterns by pharmacies, hospitals, and narcotic treatment programs for opioids. Conclusions Continued monitoring of the US Territories is needed to provide a balance between appropriate access to these important agents for cancer related and acute pain while also minimizing diversion and avoiding the opioid epidemic which has adversely impacted the US mainland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fedor F Cabrera
- Department of Medical Education, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, Scranton, PA, United States of America
| | - Erik R Gamarra
- Department of Medical Education, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, Scranton, PA, United States of America
| | - Tiffany E Garcia
- Department of Medical Education, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, Scranton, PA, United States of America
| | - Ashanti D Littlejohn
- Department of Medical Education, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, Scranton, PA, United States of America
| | - Poul A Chinga
- Department of Biology, University of Scranton, Scranton, PA, United States of America
| | - Luis D Pinentel-Morillo
- Department of Biology, Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA, United States of America
| | - Jorge R Tirado
- Department of Biology, Elizabethtown College, Elizabethtown College, PA, United States of America
| | - Daniel Y Chung
- Department of Medical Education, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, Scranton, PA, United States of America
| | - Leana J Pande
- Department of Biology, Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre, PA, United States of America
| | - Kenneth L McCall
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, University of New England, Portland, ME, United States of America
| | - Stephanie D Nichols
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, Husson University School of Pharmacy, Bangor, ME, United States of America
| | - Brian J Piper
- Department of Medical Education, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, Scranton, PA, United States of America.,Center for Pharmacy Innovation and Outcomes, Geisinger Precision Health Center, Forty Fort, PA, United States of America
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