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Banks DE, Paschke ME, Li X, Fentem A, Rich A, Szlyk HS, Cavazos-Rehg P. Opioid Use Disorder and COVID-19: Treatment and Recovery Factors among Vulnerable Populations at the Intersection of Two U.S. Epidemics. J Psychoactive Drugs 2022; 54:300-308. [PMID: 35616267 PMCID: PMC9588537 DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2022.2079443] [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: 11/10/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Social inequities made some sociodemographic groups - including those of older age, minoritized race/ethnicity, and low socioeconomic status - disproportionately vulnerable to morbidity and mortality associated with the opioid epidemic and COVID-19 pandemic. Given shared vulnerability to these public health crises, it is critical to understand how COVID-19 impacts substance use disorder (SUD) treatment and recovery among people with these characteristics. The current study examined COVID-19's perceived impact on treatment factors and psychosocial outcomes by sociodemographic vulnerability. Patients receiving SUD treatment with a history of opioid misuse were recruited. Participants completed self-report questionnaires regarding the impact of COVID-19 on treatment indicators and mood and substance use symptoms. Most participants reported that COVID-19 decreased their treatment access and quality. There were no sociodemographic differences in treatment factors. Those with high sociodemographic vulnerability reported greater pandemic-related increases in depression and demonstrated greater mood symptoms. Post-hoc analyses demonstrated that unmet basic needs were significantly associated with lower treatment access and quality, greater mood symptoms, and higher substance use. Findings suggest pandemic-related stressors and barriers affected those across the sociodemographic spectrum. Treatment systems must address socioeconomic barriers to care exacerbated by the pandemic and bolster integrated treatment options for opioid use and mood disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Devin E. Banks
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri – St. Louis, One University Blvd. 325 Stadler Hall, St. Louis, MO 63121
| | - Maria E. Paschke
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri – St. Louis, One University Blvd. 325 Stadler Hall, St. Louis, MO 63121
| | - Xiao Li
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, Box 8134, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - Andrea Fentem
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, Box 8134, St. Louis, MO 63110
| | - Amanda Rich
- Department of Psychological Sciences, University of Missouri – St. Louis, One University Blvd. 325 Stadler Hall, St. Louis, MO 63121
| | - Hannah S. Szlyk
- School of Social Work, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 120 Albany St, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
| | - Patricia Cavazos-Rehg
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, Box 8134, St. Louis, MO 63110
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Ahrens KA, Rossen LM, Burgess AR, Palmsten KK, Ziller EC. Rural-Urban Residence and Maternal Hepatitis C Infection, U.S.: 2010-2018. Am J Prev Med 2021; 60:820-830. [PMID: 33640230 PMCID: PMC8154677 DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2020.12.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2020] [Revised: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection among women delivering live births in the U.S. may be higher in rural areas where county-level estimates may be unreliable. The aim of this study is to model county-level maternal hepatitis C virus infection among deliveries in the U.S. METHODS In 2020, U.S. natality files (2010-2018) with county-level maternal residence information were used from states that had adopted the 2003 revised U.S. birth certificate, which included a field for hepatitis C virus infection present during pregnancy. Hierarchical Bayesian spatial models with spatiotemporal random effects were applied to produce stable annual county-level estimates of maternal hepatitis C virus infection for years when all states had adopted the revised birth certificate (2016-2018). Models included a 6-Level Urban-Rural County Classification Scheme along with the birth year and county-specific covariates to improve posterior predictions. RESULTS Among approximately 32 million live births, the overall prevalence of maternal hepatitis C virus infection was 3.5 per 1,000 births (increased from 2.0 in 2010 to 5.0 in 2018). During 2016-2018, posterior predicted median county-level maternal hepatitis C virus infection rates showed that nonurban counties had 3.5-3.8 times higher rates of hepatitis C virus than large central metropolitan counties. The counties in the top 10th percentile for maternal hepatitis C virus rates in 2018 were generally located in Appalachia, in Northern New England, along the northern border in the Upper Midwest, and in New Mexico. CONCLUSIONS Further implementation of community-level interventions that are effective in reducing maternal hepatitis C virus infection and its subsequent morbidity may help to reduce geographic and rural disparities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine A Ahrens
- Maine Rural Health Research Center, Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine, Portland, Maine.
| | - Lauren M Rossen
- National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Hyattsville, Maryland
| | - Amanda R Burgess
- Maine Rural Health Research Center, Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine, Portland, Maine
| | | | - Erika C Ziller
- Maine Rural Health Research Center, Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine, Portland, Maine
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Wang Z, Buu A, Lohrmann DK, Shih PC, Lin HC. The role of family conflict in mediating impulsivity to early substance exposure among preteens. Addict Behav 2021; 115:106779. [PMID: 33360278 DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2020.106779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2020] [Revised: 10/16/2020] [Accepted: 12/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Preadolescence substance exposure, which increases the risk of regular substance use, has been a public health concern. Although studies found that impulsivity is a predisposing factor of early substance exposure, the pathways through which impulsivity is associated with early substance exposure remain unclear. This study examined how family conflict mediates this association among U.S. preteens as family environment plays an essential role in pre-adolescent development. METHODS Respondents (N = 11,800, 9-10 years old) from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study Release 2.01 (July 2019) were included in this study. Generalized structural equation modeling was performed to investigate the mediation effects of family conflict on the associations between childhood impulsivity and early exposure to alcohol and tobacco use, controlling for covariates based on the Problem Behavior Theory. RESULTS Pre-adolescents with high impulsivity levels (≥90th percentile) were more likely to report early alcohol and tobacco exposure (total effect: ORs = 1.49 and 1.70, respectively), where 4.13% and 12.41% of the associations, respectively, were meditated by family conflict (indirect effect: ORs = 1.02 and 1.07; Sobel test ps = 0.022 and 0.005, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Family conflict mediates the associations between childhood impulsivity and early substance exposure among preteens, with higher impulsivity leading to more severe family conflicts that are, in turn, associated with a higher likelihood of early substance exposure. To prevent preteens with high impulsivity level from early use of substances, interventions may focus on reducing family conflicts such as parenting counseling that guides parents to strengthen conflict-resolution skills and create a stable home environment for preteens.
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Fischer B, Pang M, Jones W. The opioid mortality epidemic in North America: do we understand the supply side dynamics of this unprecedented crisis? Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy 2020; 15:14. [PMID: 32066470 PMCID: PMC7027114 DOI: 10.1186/s13011-020-0256-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2019] [Accepted: 01/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
While there has been extensive attention to the 'demand side' - or use and adverse consequences, including mortality - of the 'opioid crisis' presently unfolding across North America, few considerations have focused on the supply side. This paper examines the supply side dynamics of this unprecedented public health phenomenon. We provide evidence for several interrelated supply-side elements that have contributed to the present public health crisis. We observe that initially, persistently high levels of prescription opioid availability and use exposed large proportions of the North American population to opioids, resulting in correspondingly high levels of medical and non-medical use (e.g., involving diversion). While various intervention measures to control prescription opioid availability and use have been implemented in recent years, leading to eventual reductions in opioid dispensing levels, these occurred late in the crisis's evolution. Moreover, these supply reductions have not been met by corresponding reductions in opioid use or demand levels. These growing discrepancies between opioid demand and prescription-based sources have left major gaps in opioid supplies. In response to such supply gaps, highly potent and toxic illicit opioid products have rapidly proliferated across North America, and become a core driver of the dramatic spikes in opioid overdose fatality levels in recent years. These supply-related interrelations are corroborated by a corresponding increase in illicit opioid-related fatalities, which arose just as medical opioid supplies began to decrease in many jurisdictions. Improved analyses and understanding of the supply-side dynamics of the opioid crisis are urgently needed in order to inform future intervention and policy development. Meanwhile, the high mortality toll related to illicit, highly toxic opioid exposure requires sustained solutions, including supply-oriented measures (e.g., safer opioid distribution for at-risk users) towards improved public health protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedikt Fischer
- Schools of Population Health and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Department of Psychiatry, Federal University of São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil.
- Centre for Applied Research in Mental Health and Addiction (CARMHA), Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
| | - Michelle Pang
- Centre for Applied Research in Mental Health and Addiction (CARMHA), Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Wayne Jones
- Centre for Applied Research in Mental Health and Addiction (CARMHA), Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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A decade of extreme oscillations in opioid control and availability: implications for public health in a Canadian setting. J Public Health Policy 2020; 41:214-220. [PMID: 32054979 DOI: 10.1057/s41271-019-00214-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
We comment on developments in and impacts of medical opioid control and availability in the province of British Columbia (Canada). Population-level dispensing of (strong) prescription opioids doubled in 2005-2011, yet subsequently declined by half 2011-2018 following implementation of various opioid control measures. Notwithstanding this inversion, BC has featured the highest population rates of opioid-related mortality and morbidity in Canada. The erratic opioid availability patterns presumably facilitated major increases in opioid misuse, morbidity, and mortality. Tangible benefits for pain care from increased medical opioid availability remain un-evidenced. Rather, recent decreases in medical opioid dispensing have not been matched by equivalent reductions in demand for (non-)medical use yet have coincided with widespread proliferation of toxic, illicit opioid supply and related major increases in opioid-related mortality. These developments appear to have undermined rather than benefitted public health and offer a poignant case study in ineffective psychotropic drug control and public health policy towards preventing similar experiences elsewhere.
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Cheng T, Small W, Dong H, Nosova E, Hayashi K, DeBeck K. An age-based analysis of nonmedical prescription opioid use among people who use illegal drugs in Vancouver, Canada. Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy 2018; 13:41. [PMID: 30482215 PMCID: PMC6260714 DOI: 10.1186/s13011-018-0180-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2018] [Accepted: 11/13/2018] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nonmedical prescription opioid use (NMPOU) is a serious public health problem in North America. At a population-level, previous research has identified differences in the prevalence and correlates of NMPOU among younger versus older age groups; however, less is known about age-related differences in NMPOU among people who use illegal drugs. METHODS Data were collected between 2013 and 2015 from two linked prospective cohort studies in Vancouver, Canada: the At-Risk Youth Study (ARYS) and the Vancouver Injection Drug Users Study (VIDUS). Factors independently associated with NMPOU among younger (ARYS) and older (VIDUS) participants were examined separately using bivariate and multivariate generalized estimating equations. RESULTS A total of 1162 participants were included. Among 405 eligible younger participants (Median age = 25; Inter-Quartile Range [IQR]: 22-28), 40% (n = 160) reported engaging in NMPOU at baseline; among 757 older participants (Median age = 48, IQR: 40-55), 35% (n = 262) reported engaging in NMPOU at baseline. In separate multivariate analyses of younger and older participants, NMPOU was positively and independently associated with heroin use (younger: Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] = 3.12, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]: 2.08-4.68; older: AOR = 2.79, 95% CI: 2.08-3.74), drug dealing (younger: AOR = 2.22, 95% CI: 1.58-3.13; older: AOR = 1.87, 95% CI: 1.40-2.49), and difficulty accessing services (younger: AOR = 1.47, 95% CI: 1.04-2.09; older: AOR = 1.74, 95% CI: 1.32-2.29). Among the youth cohort only, NMPOU was associated with younger age (AOR = 1.12, 95% CI: 1.05-1.19), crack use (AOR = 1.56, 95% CI: 1.06-2.30), and binge drug use (AOR = 1.41, 95% CI: 1.00-1.97); older participants who engaged in NMPOU were more likely to report crystal methamphetamine use (AOR = 1.97, 95% CI: 1.46-2.66), non-fatal overdose (AOR = 1.76, 95% CI: 1.20-2.60) and sex work (AOR = 1.49, 95% CI: 1.00-2.22). DISCUSSION The prevalence of NMPOU is similar among younger and older people who use drugs, and independently associated with markers of vulnerability among both age groups. Adults who engage in NMPOU are at risk for non-fatal overdose, which highlights the need for youth and adult-specific strategies to address NMPOU that include better access to health and social services, as well as a range of addiction treatment options for opioid use. Findings also underscore the importance of improving pain treatment strategies tailored for PWUD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tessa Cheng
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Blusson Hall, Room 11300, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6 Canada
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, Providence Health Care, 400-1045 Howe St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9 Canada
| | - Will Small
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Blusson Hall, Room 11300, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6 Canada
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, Providence Health Care, 400-1045 Howe St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9 Canada
- Centre for Applied Research in Mental Health and Addiction, SFU Faculty of Health Sciences, 515 W. Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 5K3 Canada
| | - Huiru Dong
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, Providence Health Care, 400-1045 Howe St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9 Canada
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, 2206 East Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3 Canada
| | - Ekaterina Nosova
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, Providence Health Care, 400-1045 Howe St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9 Canada
| | - Kanna Hayashi
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Blusson Hall, Room 11300, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6 Canada
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, Providence Health Care, 400-1045 Howe St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9 Canada
| | - Kora DeBeck
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, Providence Health Care, 400-1045 Howe St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9 Canada
- School of Public Policy, Simon Fraser University, 515 West Hastings Street, Suite 3271, Vancouver, BC V6B 5K3 Canada
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Schranz AJ, Barrett J, Hurt CB, Malvestutto C, Miller WC. Challenges Facing a Rural Opioid Epidemic: Treatment and Prevention of HIV and Hepatitis C. Curr HIV/AIDS Rep 2018; 15:245-254. [PMID: 29796965 PMCID: PMC6085134 DOI: 10.1007/s11904-018-0393-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW This article reviews recent epidemiologic trends in HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) and strategies for treatment and prevention of these infections as they relate to the opioid epidemic. RECENT FINDINGS Among people who inject drugs (PWID) in the United States (US), HIV diagnoses are decreasing, while HCV is increasing. Care for HIV and HCV relies heavily on specialist infrastructure, which is lacking in rural areas. Antiretrovirals for HIV and direct-acting antivirals for HCV are effective among PWID, yet multiple barriers make it difficult for rural injectors to access these treatments. Similarly, access to syringe service programs, medication-assisted therapy for opioid addiction, and pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV are all limited in rural areas. Previous research on HIV and HCV among PWID has focused on urban or international populations, yet the US opioid epidemic is moving away from metropolitan centers. Increasing rurality of opioid injection brings unique challenges in treatment and prevention. Research into the care of HIV, HCV, and opioid use disorder among rural populations is urgently needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Asher J Schranz
- Institute for Global Health & Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 130 Mason Farm Rd. Bioinformatics Building CB# 7030, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7030, USA.
| | - Jessica Barrett
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Christopher B Hurt
- Institute for Global Health & Infectious Diseases, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 130 Mason Farm Rd. Bioinformatics Building CB# 7030, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7030, USA
| | - Carlos Malvestutto
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - William C Miller
- Division of Epidemiology, Ohio State University College of Public Health, 302 Cunz Hall, 1841 Neil Avenue, Columbus, OH, 43220, USA.
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Abstract
Although most people who inject drugs (PWID) report receiving assistance during injection initiation events, little research has focused on risk factors among PWID for providing injection initiation assistance. We therefore sought to determine the influence of non-injection drug use among PWID on their risk to initiate others. We used generalized estimating equation (GEE) models on longitudinal data among a prospective cohort of PWID in Tijuana, Mexico (Proyecto El Cuete IV), while controlling for potential confounders. At baseline, 534 participants provided data on injection initiation assistance. Overall, 14% reported ever initiating others, with 4% reporting this behavior recently (i.e., in the past 6 months). In a multivariable GEE model, recent non-injection drug use was independently associated with providing injection initiation assistance (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.42, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.39-4.20). Further, in subanalyses examining specific drug types, recent non-injection use of cocaine (AOR = 9.31, 95% CI = 3.98-21.78), heroin (AOR = 4.00, 95% CI = 1.88-8.54), and methamphetamine (AOR = 2.03, 95% CI = 1.16-3.55) were all significantly associated with reporting providing injection initiation assistance. Our findings may have important implications for the development of interventional approaches to reduce injection initiation and related harms. Further research is needed to validate findings and inform future approaches to preventing entry into drug injecting.
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Koozegar M, Shahesmaeili A, Noroozi M. Transition from First Drug Use to Regular Injection among People Who Inject Drugs in Iran. ADDICTION & HEALTH 2018; 10:32-40. [PMID: 30627383 PMCID: PMC6312558 DOI: 10.22122/ahj.v10i1.458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2017] [Accepted: 11/19/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The study aimed to evaluate the interval between first drug use and regular injection and factors associated with transition from first injection into premature regular injection among people who inject drugs (PWIDs). METHODS In a multicenter cross-sectional study, we recruited 400 PWIDs using snowball sampling. Age of first drug use, age of initiation of regular injection, and demographic and behavioral data were collected using face to face interview. Premature transition to regular injection was defined as initiation of regular injection within the five years of first injection. Data were analyzed using bivariate and multivariate logistic regression survey analysis. FINDINGS The mean age of first drug use and age of initiation of regular injection was 29.87 ± 6.54 years, respectively. Having history of sexual abuse in childhood [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 3.1], history of imprisonment (AOR = 3.4), use of heroin as the first drug (AOR = 4.3), and doing the first injection at friends' houses (AOR = 2.2) or in ruins (AOR = 2.2) significantly increased the chance of premature transition to regular injection, while being a female decreased the chance of premature transition to regular injection (AOR = 0.4). Compared to curiosity, being friend with a drug user (AOR = 0.4), having withdrawal symptoms (AOR = 0.2), and low cost of injection (AOR = 0.3) at the first occasion of drug injection reduced the chance of premature transition to regular injection. CONCLUSION New interventions to prevent injection initiation among drug users are needed and should be integrated in harm reduction programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masoomeh Koozegar
- MSc Student, Student Research Committee, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Armita Shahesmaeili
- Assistant Professor, HIV/STI Surveillance Research Center AND WHO Collaborating Center for HIV Surveillance, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Mehdi Noroozi
- Assistant Professor, Substance Abuse and Dependence Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Liebling EJ, Green TC, Hadland SE, Marshall BD. Injection drug use and overdose among young adults who use prescription opioids non-medically. Addict Behav 2018; 76:20-26. [PMID: 28735037 DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2017.07.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2017] [Revised: 06/29/2017] [Accepted: 07/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Non-medical prescription opioid (NMPO) use is a critical public health problem in the United States, with 2.1 million new initiates annually. Young adult NMPO users are at high risk for initiating injection drug use. We assessed correlates of injection drug use among young adult NMPO users in Rhode Island, a state heavily impacted by opioid overdose. METHODS We used data from the Rhode Island Young Adult Prescription Drug Study (RAPiDS), which recruited 199 residents aged 18-29 who reported past-30-day NMPO use (65.3% male). We compared individuals who reported ever having injected with individuals who reported never injecting, using logistic regression to identify independent correlates of injection. RESULTS Among eligible participants, the mean age was 24.6years and 61.3% were white. Over one-quarter (n=59, 29.6%) of the sample had ever injected drugs. The majority (n=46, 78.0%) of participants who had ever injected drugs reported injecting heroin as her/his first drug; the majority also reported previously snorting her/his first drug that was injected (n=46, 78.0%). In multivariable analyses, white race, older age, lifetime homelessness, and ever having overdosed or seen someone overdose were independently associated with an increased likelihood of ever injecting drugs. CONCLUSIONS These findings demonstrate a high prevalence of lifetime injection drug use among young adults who use prescription opioids non-medically. Given the observed associations between injection drug use and witnessing as well as experiencing overdose, interventions are urgently needed to improve overdose education and naloxone distribution to young adult NMPO users who inject drugs.
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Bluthenthal RN, Wenger L, Chu D, Bourgois P, Kral AH. Drug use generations and patterns of injection drug use: Birth cohort differences among people who inject drugs in Los Angeles and San Francisco, California. Drug Alcohol Depend 2017; 175:210-218. [PMID: 28448905 PMCID: PMC5494991 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2017.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2017] [Revised: 03/24/2017] [Accepted: 04/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES A robust literature documents generational trends in drug use. We examined the implications of changing national drug use patterns on drug injection histories of diverse people who inject drugs (PWID). METHODS Drug use histories were collected from 776 active PWID in 2011-13. Using descriptive statistics, we examine drug use initiation by year and birth cohort (BC) differences in drug first injected. A multivariate linear regression model of time to injection initiation ([TTII] (year of first injection minus year of first illicit drug use) was developed to explore BC differences. RESULTS The first drug injected by BC changed in tandem with national drug use trends with heroin declining from 77% for the pre-1960's BC to 58% for the 1960's BC before increasing to 71% for the 1990's BC. Multivariate linear regression modeling found that shorter TTII was associated with the 1980's/1990's BC (-3.50 years; 95% Confidence Interval [CI]=-0.79, -6.21) as compared to the 1970's BC. Longer TTII was associated with being female (1.65 years; 95% CI=0.40, 2.90), African American (1.69 years; 95% CI=0.43, 2.95), any substance use treatment prior to injection (4.22 years; 95% CI=2.65, 5.79), and prior non-injection use of drug that was first injected (3.29 years; 95% CI=2.19, 4.40). CONCLUSION National drug trends appear to influence injection drug use patterns. The prescription opiate drug era is associated with shorter TTII. Culturally competent, demographically and generationally-targeted prevention strategies to combat transitions to drug injection are needed to prevent or shorten upstream increases in risky drug use practices on a national level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricky N. Bluthenthal
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Institute for Prevention Research, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 2001 N. Soto Street, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
| | - Lynn Wenger
- Behavioral and Urban Health Program, RTI International, 351 California St., San Francisco, CA 94104, USA
| | - Daniel Chu
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Institute for Prevention Research, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 2001 N. Soto Street, Los Angeles, CA, 90033, USA
| | - Philippe Bourgois
- Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA Center for Social Medicine and the Humanities, Semel Institute, 760 Westwood Plaza, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Alex H. Kral
- Behavioral and Urban Health Program, RTI International, 351 California St., San Francisco, CA 94104, USA
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