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Byrne CJ, Sani F, Flynn T, Malaguti A. 'It was like coming back from the clouds': a qualitative analysis of the lived experience of overdose consequent to drug use among a cohort of people who use drugs in Scotland. Harm Reduct J 2024; 21:112. [PMID: 38849877 PMCID: PMC11157918 DOI: 10.1186/s12954-024-01033-7] [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: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Globally, non-fatal overdose (NFOD) rates consequent to drug use, typically opioids, continue increasing at a startling rate. Existing quantitative research has revealed myriad factors and characteristics linked to experiencing NFOD, but it is critically important to explore the lived context underlying these associations. In this qualitative study, we sought to understand the experiences of NFOD among people who use drugs in a Scottish region in order to: enhance public policy responses; inform potential intervention development to mitigate risk; and contribute to the literature documenting the lived experience of NFOD. METHODS From June to July 2021, two peer researchers conducted face-to-face semi-structured interviews with people who use drugs who had experienced recent NFOD attending harm reduction services in Tayside, Scotland. These were transcribed verbatim and evaluated using thematic analysis with an inductive approach which had an experiential and essentialist orientation. RESULTS Twenty people were interviewed across two sites. Of those, 15 (75%) were male and mean age was 38.2 (7.7) years. All had experienced at least one NFOD in the prior six months, and all reported polydrug use. Five themes were identified, within which 12 subthemes were situated. The themes were: social context; personal risk-taking triggers; planned and impulsive consumption; risk perception; and overdose reversal. The results spoke to the environmental, behavioural, cognitive, economic, and marketplace, factors which influence the context of NFOD in the region. CONCLUSIONS A complex interplay of behavioural, psychological, and situational factors were found to impact the likelihood of experiencing NFOD. Structural inequities which policy professionals and civic leaders should seek to remedy were identified, while service providers may seek to reconfigure healthcare provision for people who use drugs to account for the interpersonal, psychological, and social factors identified, which appear to precipitate NFOD. TRIAL REGISTRATION Not applicable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J Byrne
- Division of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK.
- Directorate of Public Health, NHS Tayside, Kings Cross Hospital, Dundee, UK.
| | - Fabio Sani
- Division of Psychology, School of Humanities, Social Sciences and Law, University of Dundee, Scrymgeour Building, Dundee, UK
| | | | - Amy Malaguti
- Division of Psychology, School of Humanities, Social Sciences and Law, University of Dundee, Scrymgeour Building, Dundee, UK
- Tayside Drug and Alcohol Recovery Psychology Service, NHS Tayside, Dundee, UK
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Salekešin M, Vorobjov S, Des Jarlais D, Uusküla A. Mortality among people who inject drugs - the interwoven roles of fentanyl and HIV: a community-based cohort study. Eur J Public Health 2024; 34:329-334. [PMID: 38041408 PMCID: PMC10990538 DOI: 10.1093/eurpub/ckad204] [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] [Indexed: 12/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Excess all-cause mortality is a key indicator for assessing direct and indirect consequences of injection drug use and data are warranted to delineate sub-populations within people who inject drugs at higher risk of death. Our aim was to examine mortality and factors associated with mortality among people who inject drugs in Estonia. METHODS Retrospective cohort study using data from people who inject drugs recruited in the community with linkage to death records. Standardized mortality ratios were used to compare the cohort mortality to the general population and potential predictors of death were examined through survival analysis (Cox regression). The cohort include a total of 1399 people who inject drugs recruited for cross-sectional surveys using respondent driven sampling between 2013 and 2018 in Estonia. A cohort with follow-up through 2019 was formed with linkage to national causes of death registry. RESULTS Among 1399 participants with 4684 person-years of follow-up, 10% were deceased by 2019. The all-cause mortality rate in the cohort was 28.9 per 1000 person-years (95% confidence interval 25.3-35.3). Being HIV positive, injecting mainly opioids (fentanyl), living in the capital region and the main source of income other than work were associated with greater mortality risk. CONCLUSIONS While low-threshold services have been available for a long time for people who inject drugs, there is still a need to widen the availability and integration of services, particularly the integration of HIV and opioid treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maris Salekešin
- Department of Risk Behavior Studies, National Institute for Health Development, Tallinn, Estonia
- Institute of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Sigrid Vorobjov
- Department of Risk Behavior Studies, National Institute for Health Development, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Don Des Jarlais
- School of Global Public Health, New York University, New York, USA
| | - Anneli Uusküla
- Institute of Family Medicine and Public Health, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
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Roux P, Jauffret-Roustide M, Donadille C, Briand Madrid L, Denis C, Célérier I, Chauvin C, Hamelin N, Maradan G, Carrieri MP, Protopopescu C, Lalanne L, Auriacombe M. Impact of drug consumption rooms on non-fatal overdoses, abscesses and emergency department visits in people who inject drugs in France: results from the COSINUS cohort. Int J Epidemiol 2022; 52:562-576. [PMID: 35690956 DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyac120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The effectiveness of drug consumption rooms (DCRs) for people who inject drugs (PWID) has been demonstrated for HIV and hepatitis C virus risk practices, and access to care for substance use disorders. However, data on other health-related complications are scarce. Using data from the French COSINUS cohort, we investigated the impact of DCR exposure on non-fatal overdoses, abscesses and emergency department (ED) visits, all in the previous 6 months. METHODS COSINUS is a 12-month prospective cohort study of 665 PWID in France studying DCR effectiveness on health. We collected data from face-to-face interviews at enrolment, and at 6 and 12 months of follow-up. After adjusting for other correlates (P-value < 0.05), the impact of DCR exposure on each outcome was assessed using a two-step Heckman mixed-effects probit model, allowing us to adjust for potential non-randomization bias due to differences between DCR-exposed and DCR-unexposed participants, while taking into account the correlation between repeated measures. RESULTS At enrolment, 21%, 6% and 38% of the 665 participants reported overdoses, abscesses and ED visits, respectively. Multivariable models found that DCR-exposed participants were less likely to report overdoses [adjusted coefficient (95% CI): -0.47 (-0.88; -0.07), P = 0.023], abscesses [-0.74 (-1.11; -0.37), P < 0.001] and ED visits [-0.74 (-1.27; -0.20), P = 0.007]. CONCLUSION This is the first study to show the positive impact of DCR exposure on abscesses and ED visits, and confirms DCR effectiveness in reducing overdoses, when adjusting for potential non-randomization bias. Our findings strengthen the argument to expand DCR implementation to improve PWID injection environment and health.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Roux
- Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, IRD, SESSTIM, Sciences Economiques & Sociales de la Santé & Traitement de l'Information Médicale, ISSPAM, Marseille, France
| | - M Jauffret-Roustide
- Cermes3, Inserm U988/CNRS UMR 8211/EHESS/Université de Paris, Paris, France
- British Columbia Center on Substance Use, Vancouver, Canada
- Baldy Center on Law and Social Policy, Buffalo University, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - C Donadille
- Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, IRD, SESSTIM, Sciences Economiques & Sociales de la Santé & Traitement de l'Information Médicale, ISSPAM, Marseille, France
| | - L Briand Madrid
- Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, IRD, SESSTIM, Sciences Economiques & Sociales de la Santé & Traitement de l'Information Médicale, ISSPAM, Marseille, France
| | - C Denis
- Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Univ. Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
- Sleep, Addiction and Neuropsychiatry research laboratory (SANPSY), CNRS UMR 6033, Bordeaux, France
- Pôle Addictologie, CH Charles Perrens and CHU de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - I Célérier
- ORS PACA, Observatoire régional de la santé Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Marseille, France
| | - C Chauvin
- Cermes3, Inserm U988/CNRS UMR 8211/EHESS/Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - N Hamelin
- INSERM 1114, Department of Psychiatry and Addictology, University Hospital of Strasbourg, Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg (FMTS), Strasbourg, France
| | - G Maradan
- ORS PACA, Observatoire régional de la santé Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, Marseille, France
| | - M P Carrieri
- Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, IRD, SESSTIM, Sciences Economiques & Sociales de la Santé & Traitement de l'Information Médicale, ISSPAM, Marseille, France
| | - C Protopopescu
- Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, IRD, SESSTIM, Sciences Economiques & Sociales de la Santé & Traitement de l'Information Médicale, ISSPAM, Marseille, France
| | - L Lalanne
- INSERM 1114, Department of Psychiatry and Addictology, University Hospital of Strasbourg, Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg (FMTS), Strasbourg, France
- Department of Psychiatry and Addictology, University Hospital of Strasbourg, Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle de Strasbourg (FMTS), Strasbourg, France
| | - M Auriacombe
- Univ. Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
- Sleep, Addiction and Neuropsychiatry research laboratory (SANPSY), CNRS UMR 6033, Bordeaux, France
- Pôle Addictologie, CH Charles Perrens and CHU de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
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Dunleavy K, Hutchinson SJ, Palmateer N, Goldberg D, Taylor A, Munro A, Shepherd SJ, Gunson RN, Given S, Campbell J, McAuley A. The uptake of foil from needle and syringe provision services and its role in smoking or snorting heroin among people who inject drugs in Scotland. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2021; 98:103369. [PMID: 34340168 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2021.103369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Revised: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In the UK, legislation was implemented in 2014 allowing needle and syringe provision (NSP) services to offer foil to people who inject drugs (PWID) to encourage smoking rather than injecting. This paper aims to examine the association between foil uptake and smoking or snorting heroin among PWID. This is the first large scale national study to examine foil uptake and smoking or snorting heroin among PWID post legislative change. METHOD Data from 1453 PWID interviewed via Scotland's Needle Exchange Surveillance Initiative in 2017-2018 were analysed using multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS Overall, 36% of PWID had obtained foil from NSP services in the past six months. The odds of smoking or snorting heroin were higher among those who had obtained foil (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) 3.79 (95% CI 2.98-4.82) p<0.001) compared to those who had not. Smoking or snorting heroin was associated with lower odds of injecting four or more times daily (AOR 0.60 (95% CI 0.40-0.90) p = 0.012) and injecting into the groin or neck (AOR 0.57 (95% CI 0.46-0.71) p<0.001) but increased odds of having had a skin and soft tissue infection (SSTI) (AOR 1.49 (95% CI 1.17-1.89) p = 0.001) and having experienced an overdose (AOR 1.58 (95% CI 1.18-2.10) p = 0.002) both in the past year. CONCLUSION The promotion of smoking drugs via foil provision from NSP services may contribute to the package of harm reduction measures for PWID alongside the provision of injecting equipment. We found that those in receipt of foil were more likely to smoke or snort heroin, and that smoking or snorting heroin was associated with a lower likelihood of some risky injecting behaviours, namely frequent injecting and injecting into the groin or neck. But it remains uncertain if the provision of foil can lead to a reduction in health harms, such as SSTI and overdose. Future research is needed to understand PWID motivations for smoking drugs, obtaining foil from NSP services, and its uses particularly among polydrug users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Dunleavy
- School of Education and Social Sciences, University of the West of Scotland, Paisley, PA1 2BE, Scotland.
| | - Sharon J Hutchinson
- School of Health and Life Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, Scotland; Public Health Scotland, NHS National Services Scotland, Glasgow, Scotland
| | - Norah Palmateer
- School of Health and Life Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, Scotland; Public Health Scotland, NHS National Services Scotland, Glasgow, Scotland
| | - David Goldberg
- School of Health and Life Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, Scotland; Public Health Scotland, NHS National Services Scotland, Glasgow, Scotland
| | - Avril Taylor
- School of Education and Social Sciences, University of the West of Scotland, Paisley, PA1 2BE, Scotland
| | - Alison Munro
- School of Health Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland
| | | | - Rory N Gunson
- West of Scotland Specialist Virology Centre, Glasgow, Scotland
| | - Sophie Given
- Scottish Drugs Forum, 139 Morrison Street, Edinburgh, Scotland
| | | | - Andrew McAuley
- School of Health and Life Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, Scotland; Public Health Scotland, NHS National Services Scotland, Glasgow, Scotland
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Substances detected in used syringes of injecting drug users across 7 cities in Europe in 2017 and 2018: The European Syringe Collection and Analysis Project Enterprise (ESCAPE). THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2021; 95:103130. [PMID: 33487529 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2021.103130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Revised: 12/31/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Injecting drug use is a matter of public health concern, associated with risks of overdoses, addiction and increased risk of bloodborne viral transmissions. Self-reported data on substances injected can be inaccurate or subject to bias or drug users might be oblivious to their injected substances or adulterations. Gathering of robust analytical information on the actual composition of substances injected might provide better information about the drugs that are being used. Therefore, this study aimed to analyse the residual content of discarded syringes collected across 7 European cities, collectively called the European Syringe Collection and Analysis Project Enterprise (ESCAPE). METHODS Used syringes were collected at street automatic injection kit dispensers or at harm-reduction services in Amsterdam, Budapest, Cologne, Glasgow, Helsinki, Lausanne and Paris. Two sampling periods were executed thus far, in 2017 and 2018. Qualitative chemical analysis of the content of used syringes was performed combining gas chromatographic (GC) and ultra(high)performance liquid chromatographic ((U)HPLC) analytical techniques with detection by mass spectrometry (MS). RESULTS Substances detected most frequently across both campaigns were cocaine, heroin, buprenorphine, amphetamines and synthetic cathinones. In Amsterdam, Cologne, Lausanne and Glasgow heroin and cocaine were the psychoactive substances most often detected, often in conjunction with each other. Helsinki showed a high presence of buprenorphine and amphetamines. In Budapest and Paris, synthetic cathinones were frequently detected. Less synthetic cathinones and cocaine was detected in 2018, whereas buprenorphine was detected almost twice as much. Inner-city variations were found, probably reflecting the types of people who inject drugs (PWID) in different areas of the city. CONCLUSION Overall, laboratory-confirmed local data on injected substances showed resemblance to national surveys done among PWID. However, the ESCAPE data also showed some interesting differences, showing it can be used for local interventions and complementing existing monitoring data.
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Akhgari M, Sardari-Iravani F, Ghadipasha M. Trends in Poly Drug Use-associated Deaths based on Confirmed Analytical Toxicology Results in Tehran, Iran, in 2011-2016. ADDICTION & HEALTH 2021; 13:18-28. [PMID: 33995956 PMCID: PMC8080175 DOI: 10.22122/ahj.v13i1.296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 11/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Poly drug use is a public health threat causing morbidity and mortality all over the world. Combined use of licit and illicit drugs is among the possible causes of death. In this retrospective analytical study, we evaluated forensic toxicology analysis results from 2011 to 2016 in Tehran province, Iran. METHODS All deaths related to poly drug use and referred to the Legal Medicine Organization, Tehran during the 6-year study period were evaluated. Postmortem samples were analyzed to detect alcohols, and prescription and illicit drugs using headspace gas chromatography (HSGC), high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) in a forensic toxicology laboratory. Manner of death, demographic characteristics, and different drug categories in postmortem samples were analyzed. FINDINGS A total of 1388 poly drug use-associated deaths were investigated during the 6-year study period. Overall, victims were mostly young men of 20-40 years of age (56.8%). The male to female ratio was 7:16. Methadone (n = 660; 47.6%) and amphetamine type stimulants (ATS) (n = 657; 47.3%) were in the highest category for poly drug use-associated deaths. Moreover, in some cases, opium (n = 458; 32.9%), tramadol (n = 389; 28.0%), and tricyclic antidepressants (n = 151; 10.9%) had been used with other drugs. CONCLUSION The present study provides information about poly drug use-associated deaths in Tehran and highlights the major role of substance abuse in death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Akhgari
- Department of Forensic Toxicology, Legal Medicine Research Center, Legal Medicine Organization, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fariba Sardari-Iravani
- Department of Forensic Toxicology, Legal Medicine Research Center, Legal Medicine Organization, Tehran, Iran
| | - Masoud Ghadipasha
- Legal Medicine Research Center, Legal Medicine Organization, Tehran, Iran
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