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Roberts E, Copeland C, Humphreys K, Shover CL. Drug-related deaths among housed and homeless individuals in the UK and the USA: comparative retrospective cohort study. Br J Psychiatry 2023; 223:562-568. [PMID: 37665046 PMCID: PMC10727910 DOI: 10.1192/bjp.2023.111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The UK and USA currently report their highest number of drug-related deaths since records began, with higher rates among individuals experiencing homelessness. AIMS Given that overdose prevention in homeless populations may require unique strategies, we evaluated whether substances implicated in death differed between (a) housed decedents and those experiencing homelessness and (b) between US and UK homeless populations. METHOD We conducted an internationally comparative retrospective cohort study utilising multilevel multinomial regression modelling of coronial/medical examiner-verified drug-related deaths from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2021. UK data were available for England, Wales and Northern Ireland; US data were collated from eight county jurisdictions. Data were available on decedent age, sex, ethnicity, housing status and substances implicated in death. RESULTS Homeless individuals accounted for 16.3% of US decedents versus 3.4% in the UK. Opioids were implicated in 66.3 and 50.4% of all studied drug-related deaths in the UK and the USA respectively. UK homeless decedents had a significantly increased risk of having only opioids implicated in death compared with only non-opioids implicated (relative risk ratio RRR = 1.87, 95% CI 1.76-1.98, P < 0.001); conversely, US homeless decedents had a significantly decreased risk (RRR = 0.37, 95% CI 0.29-0.48, P < 0.001). Methamphetamine was implicated in two-thirds (66.7%) of deaths among US homeless decedents compared with 0.4% in the UK. CONCLUSIONS Both the rate and type of drug-related deaths differ significantly between homeless and housed populations in the UK and USA. The two countries also differ in drugs implicated in death. Targeted programmes for country-specific implicated drug profiles appear warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmert Roberts
- National Addiction Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Caroline Copeland
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Keith Humphreys
- Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, California, USA; and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Chelsea L. Shover
- David Geffen School of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine and Health Services Research, University of California – Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, California, USA
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Argento E, Shannon K, Fairbairn N, Moreheart S, Braschel M, Goldenberg S. Increasing trends and incidence of nonfatal overdose among women sex workers who use drugs in British Columbia: The role of criminalization-related barriers to harm reduction. Drug Alcohol Depend 2023; 244:109789. [PMID: 36753803 PMCID: PMC10773461 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2023.109789] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Structurally marginalized women who use drugs experience disproportionately elevated health and social inequities that require specialized responses to mitigate risk of overdose. This study aimed to longitudinally investigate incidence and predictors of first nonfatal overdose among women sex workers who use drugs. METHODS Data (2010-2019) were drawn from AESHA (An Evaluation of Sex Workers Health Access), a community-based, prospective, open cohort of > 900 women sex workers in Metro Vancouver, Canada. Incidence was examined and Cox regression modelled time-updated predictors of first nonfatal overdose. Time series analysis examined annual trends. RESULTS Among 273 eligible participants, 23% (n = 63) reported a first nonfatal overdose over follow-up with an incidence density of 5.87/100 person-years. In multivariable analysis, independent predictors of time to nonfatal overdose were police-related barriers to harm reduction (Adjusted Hazard Ratio [AHR]=2.62; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.51-4.54), binge alcohol use (AHR=2.28; 95%CI 1.16-4.45), opioid use (AHR=2.23; 95%CI 1.15-4.33), and crystal methamphetamine use (AHR=2.07; 95%CI 1.27-3.39). Time series analysis demonstrated a significantly increasing trend in first nonfatal overdose, with annual proportions increasing 0.59% (95%CI 0.39-0.78%) every year, on average. CONCLUSIONS This study provides strong longitudinal evidence from the longest-standing cohort of sex workers in North America. Nonfatal overdose in this setting is a critical public health concern. Criminalization-related barriers to harm reduction strongly predicted nonfatal overdose. Structural changes to legal and policing practices alongside gender-sensitive addiction services are urgently needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Argento
- Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 2206 East Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z9, Canada; BC Centre on Substance Use, 1045 Howe St., Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada; Centre for Gender & Sexual Health Equity, 1190 Hornby St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada
| | - Kate Shannon
- Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 2206 East Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z9, Canada; Centre for Gender & Sexual Health Equity, 1190 Hornby St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada
| | - Nadia Fairbairn
- Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 2206 East Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z9, Canada; BC Centre on Substance Use, 1045 Howe St., Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada
| | - Sarah Moreheart
- Centre for Gender & Sexual Health Equity, 1190 Hornby St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada; Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada
| | - Melissa Braschel
- Centre for Gender & Sexual Health Equity, 1190 Hornby St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada
| | - Shira Goldenberg
- Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 2206 East Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z9, Canada; Centre for Gender & Sexual Health Equity, 1190 Hornby St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada; Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada; Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive, San Diego, CA 92182-4162, USA.
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