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Giang K, Charlesworth R, Thulien M, Mulholland A, Barker B, Brar R, Pauly B, Fast D. Risk mitigation guidance and safer supply prescribing among young people who use drugs in the context of COVID-19 and overdose emergencies. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2023; 115:104023. [PMID: 37059025 PMCID: PMC10067449 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2023.104023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023]
Abstract
Across North America, overlapping overdose and COVID-19 emergencies have had a substantial impact on young people who use drugs (YPWUD). New risk mitigation guidance (RMG) prescribing practices were introduced in British Columbia, Canada, in 2020 to allow people to decrease risk of overdose and withdrawal and better self-isolate. We examined how the prescribing of hydromorphone tablets specifically impacted YPWUD's substance use and care trajectories. Between April 2020 and July 2021, we conducted virtual interviews with 30 YPWUD who had accessed an RMG prescription of hydromorphone in the previous six months and 10 addiction medicine physicians working in Vancouver. A thematic analysis was conducted. YPWUD participants highlighted a disjuncture between risk mitigation prescriptions and the safe supply of unadulterated substances such as fentanyl, underscoring that having access to the latter is critical to reducing their reliance on street-based drug markets and overdose-related risks. They described re-appropriating these prescriptions to meet their needs, stockpiling hydromorphone so that it could be used as an “emergency backup” when they were unable to procure unregulated, illicit opioids. In the context of entrenched poverty, hydromorphone was also used to generate income for the purchase of drugs and various necessities. For some YPWUD, hydromorphone prescriptions could be used alongside opioid agonist therapy (OAT) to reduce withdrawal and cravings and improve adherence to OAT. However, some physicians were wary of prescribing hydromorphone due to the lack of evidence for this new approach. Our findings underscore the importance of providing YPWUD with a safe supply of the substances they are actively using alongside a continuum of substance use treatment and care, and the need for both medical and community-based safe and safer supply models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Giang
- Department of Family Practice, University of British Columbia, 317-2914 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Reith Charlesworth
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9, Canada
| | - Madison Thulien
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9, Canada
| | - Alanna Mulholland
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9, Canada; Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, 520 West 6(th) Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1A1, Canada
| | - Brittany Barker
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9, Canada; Canadian Institute of Substance Use Research, 2300 McKenzie Avenue, Victoria, BC V8N 5M8, Canada
| | - Rupinder Brar
- Department of Family Practice, University of British Columbia, 317-2914 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada; Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, 520 West 6(th) Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1A1, Canada
| | - Bernie Pauly
- Canadian Institute of Substance Use Research, 2300 McKenzie Avenue, Victoria, BC V8N 5M8, Canada; School of Nursing, University of Victoria, PO Box 1700 STN CSC, Victoria BC V8W 2Y2, Canada
| | - Danya Fast
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9, Canada; Department of Medicine (Division of Social Medicine), 317-2914 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3, Canada.
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Holmén E, Hammarberg A, Kåberg M, Storbjörk J. Take-Home Naloxone and risk management from the perspective of people who survived an opioid overdose in Stockholm - An analysis informed by drug, set and setting. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2023; 115:104021. [PMID: 37011507 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2023.104021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Take-Home Naloxone (THN) programs were introduced in Sweden in 2018 - a country with one of the highest rates of overdose mortality in the EU and a severe stigmatisation of people who inject drugs. This qualitative study builds on the international research that has expanded a previously narrow and medical focus on overdose deaths. It uses Zinberg's framework to look beyond the role of the "drug" to include the attitudes and personality of the person ("set") and contextual factors ("setting"). This study explores the impacts of THN from the perspective of overdose survivors. METHODS Between November 2021 and May 2022 semi-structured interviews were conducted with 22 opioid overdose survivors, recruited among clients of the Stockholm needle and syringe program. All the participants had been treated with naloxone in an overdose situation. The interviews were processed through thematic analysis using deductive and inductive coding in accordance with the theoretical framework. RESULTS Interviewees included men and women who used different types of drugs. THN has impacted on "drug" in terms of naloxone-induced withdrawal symptoms and peers having to deal with survivors' emotions. Exploring "set" revealed feelings of shame following naloxone revival for the person who overdosed. Despite such reactions, participants retained an overwhelmingly positive attitude towards THN. Participants integrated THN into their risk management practices ("setting") and some acknowledged that THN provided a new way to treat overdoses without necessarily needing to interact with authorities, especially the police. CONCLUSION The THN program has influenced "drug, set and setting" for participants, providing increased safety at drug-intake and transferring overdose management and the burden of care to the community. The lived experience of participants also exposes the limitations of THN indicating that there are additional unmet needs beyond THN programs, particularly in terms of "setting".
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Affiliation(s)
- E Holmén
- Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Stockholm Needle and Syringe program, Stockholm Centre for Dependency Disorders, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - A Hammarberg
- Centre for Psychiatry Research, Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Stockholm Centre for Dependency Disorders, Stockholm Health Care Services, Region Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - M Kåberg
- Stockholm Needle and Syringe program, Stockholm Centre for Dependency Disorders, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - J Storbjörk
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
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van Draanen J, Jamula R, Karamouzian M, Mitra S, Richardson L. Pathways connecting socioeconomic marginalization and overdose: A qualitative narrative synthesis. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2023; 113:103971. [PMID: 36822011 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2023.103971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE This qualitative narrative synthesis sought to identify pathways connecting socioeconomic marginalization (SEM) and overdose for people who use drugs. METHODS We included studies with qualitative examination of SEM and fatal and non-fatal overdose published in English between 2000 and 2021. Studies were systematically identified and screened by searching MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), PsycINFO (EBSCOhost), CINAHL (EBSCOhost), Google Scholar, Cochrane Central Registry of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), and Cochrane Drug and Alcohol Group (CDAG) Specialized Registry, citations, and contacting experts. Risk of bias and quality assessments were performed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme checklist and the Confidence in the Evidence from Reviews of Qualitative Research approach. Data were synthesized using a thematic synthesis approach. RESULTS The primary search strategy found 5909 articles that met the initial screening criteria. The review and screening process led to a final dataset of 27 qualitative articles. The four key findings of this narrative synthesis revealed aspects of SEM which shaped drug poisoning risk for people who use drugs: (1) resource insufficiency, labor market exclusion and deindustrialization, (2) homelessness and housing, (3) policing, criminalization, and interactions with emergency services, and (4) gendered and racialized dimensions of inequality. Findings led to creating a typology that includes material, behavioral, psychological, social, and environmental pathways that contain multiple mechanisms connecting SEM to overdose. This review revealed reciprocal connections between overdose and SEM via institutional pathways with reinforcing mechanisms, and interrelationships present within and between pathways. Quality assessments indicated moderate confidence in three of four findings (Findings 2,3, and 4 above) and high confidence in one finding (Finding 1). CONCLUSION SEM is strongly linked to drug poisoning, and the mechanisms establishing these connections can be classified within four pathways. The interconnectedness of these mechanisms can lead to intensification of overdose risk and reinforcement of SEM itself.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenna van Draanen
- BC Centre on Substance Use, 400 - 1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 2A9, Canada; University of British Columbia, Faculty of Arts, Department of Sociology, 6303 NW Marine Drive, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z1, Canada; Department of Child, Family, and Population Health Nursing; School of Nursing; University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Health Systems and Population Health; School of Public Health; University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Ryan Jamula
- BC Centre on Substance Use, 400 - 1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 2A9, Canada; University of British Columbia, Faculty of Arts, Department of Sociology, 6303 NW Marine Drive, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z1, Canada
| | - Mohammad Karamouzian
- BC Centre on Substance Use, 400 - 1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 2A9, Canada; Brown School of Public Health, Brown University, 121 S Main St, Providence, RI, 02903, USA; HIV/STI Surveillance Research Center, and WHO Collaborating Center for HIV Surveillance, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, 7616913555, Iran; Centre On Drug Policy Evaluation, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sanjana Mitra
- BC Centre on Substance Use, 400 - 1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 2A9, Canada; University of British Columbia, Interdisciplinary Studies Graduate Program, 270, 2357 Main Mall, H. R. MacMillan Building, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z4, Canada; Centre On Drug Policy Evaluation, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Lindsey Richardson
- BC Centre on Substance Use, 400 - 1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 2A9, Canada; University of British Columbia, Faculty of Arts, Department of Sociology, 6303 NW Marine Drive, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z1, Canada.
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Pan Y, Feaster DJ, Odom G, Brandt L, Hu MC, Weiss RD, Rotrosen J, Saxon AJ, Luo SX, Balise RR. Specific polysubstance use patterns predict relapse among patients entering opioid use disorder treatment. DRUG AND ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE REPORTS 2022; 5:100128. [PMID: 36644227 PMCID: PMC9838120 DOI: 10.1016/j.dadr.2022.100128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Introduction While polysubstance use has consistently been associated with higher rates of relapse, few studies have examined subgroups with specific combinations and time course of polysubstance use (i.e., polysubstance use patterns). This study aimed to classify and compare polysubstance use patterns, and their associations with relapse to regular opioid use in 2637 participants in three large opioid use disorder (OUD) treatment trials. Methods We explored the daily patterns of self-reported substance use in the 28 days prior to treatment entry. Market basket analysis (MBA) and repeated measure latent class analysis (RMLCA) were used to examine the subgroups of polysubstance use patterns, and multiple logistic regression was used to examine associations between identified classes and relapse. Results MBA and RMLCA identified 34 "associations rules " and 6 classes, respectively. Specific combinations of polysubstance use and time course (high baseline use and rapid decrease of use prior to initiation) predicts a worse relapse outcome. MBA showed individuals who co-used cocaine, heroin, prescription opioids, and cannabis had a higher risk for relapse (OR = 2.82, 95%CI = 1.13, 7.03). In RMLCA, higher risk of relapse was observed in individuals who presented with high baseline prescription opioid (OR = 1.9, 95% CI = 1.3, 2.76) or heroin use (OR = 3.54, 95%CI = 1.86, 6.72), although use decreased in both cases prior to treatment initiation. Conclusions Our analyses identified subgroups with distinct patterns of polysubstance use. Different patterns of polysubstance use differentially predict relapse outcomes. Interventions tailored to these individuals with specific polysubstance use patterns prior to treatment initiation may increase the effectiveness of relapse prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Pan
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Division of Biostatistics, University of Miami, Office 1023, 1120 NW 14th St, Miami, FL 33136, USA,Corresponding author. (Y. Pan)
| | - Daniel J. Feaster
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Division of Biostatistics, University of Miami, Office 1023, 1120 NW 14th St, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Gabriel Odom
- Department of Biostatistics, Florida International University, USA
| | - Laura Brandt
- Department of Psychology, The City College of New York, USA
| | - Mei-Chen Hu
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, USA
| | - Roger D. Weiss
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Boston, and McLean Hospital, USA
| | - John Rotrosen
- Department of Psychiatry, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, USA
| | - Andrew J. Saxon
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, USA
| | - Sean X. Luo
- Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, USA
| | - Raymond R. Balise
- Department of Public Health Sciences, Division of Biostatistics, University of Miami, Office 1023, 1120 NW 14th St, Miami, FL 33136, USA
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Jones CM, Shoff C, Hodges K, Blanco C, Losby JL, Ling SM, Compton WM. Receipt of Telehealth Services, Receipt and Retention of Medications for Opioid Use Disorder, and Medically Treated Overdose Among Medicare Beneficiaries Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic. JAMA Psychiatry 2022; 79:981-992. [PMID: 36044198 PMCID: PMC9434479 DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2022.2284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Federal emergency authorities were invoked during the COVID-19 pandemic to expand use of telehealth for new and continued care, including provision of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD). OBJECTIVE To examine receipt of telehealth services, MOUD (methadone, buprenorphine, and extended-release [ER] naltrexone) receipt and retention, and medically treated overdose before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This exploratory longitudinal cohort study used data from the US Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services from September 2018 to February 2021. Two cohorts (before COVID-19 pandemic from September 2018 to February 2020 and during COVID-19 pandemic from September 2019 to February 2021) of Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries 18 years and older with an International Statistical Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification OUD diagnosis. EXPOSURES Pre-COVID-19 pandemic vs COVID-19 pandemic cohort demographic characteristics, medical and substance use, and psychiatric comorbidities. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Receipt and retention of MOUD, receipt of OUD and behavioral health-related telehealth services, and experiencing medically treated overdose. RESULTS The pre-COVID-19 pandemic cohort comprised 105 240 beneficiaries; of these, 61 152 (58.1%) were female, 71 152 (67.6%) were aged 45 to 74 years, and 82 822 (79.5%) non-Hispanic White. The COVID-19 pandemic cohort comprised 70 538 beneficiaries; of these, 40 257 (57.1%) were female, 46 793 (66.3%) were aged 45 to 74 years, and 55 510 (79.7%) were non-Hispanic White. During the study period, a larger percentage of beneficiaries in the pandemic cohort compared with the prepandemic cohort received OUD-related telehealth services (13 829 [19.6%] vs 593 [0.6%]; P < .001), behavioral health-related telehealth services (28 902 [41.0%] vs 1967 [1.9%]; P < .001), and MOUD (8854 [12.6%] vs 11 360 [10.8%]; P < .001). The percentage experiencing a medically treated overdose during the study period was similar (18.5% [19 491 of 105 240] in the prepandemic cohort vs 18.4% [13 004 of 70 538] in the pandemic cohort; P = .65). Receipt of OUD-related telehealth services in the pandemic cohort was associated with increased odds of MOUD retention (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.27; 95% CI, 1.14-1.41) and lower odds of medically treated overdose (aOR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.63-0.71). Among beneficiaries in the pandemic cohort, those receiving MOUD from opioid treatment programs only (aOR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.47-0.63) and those receiving buprenorphine from pharmacies only (aOR, 0.91; 95% CI, 0.84-0.98) had lower odds of medically treated overdose compared with beneficiaries who did not receive MOUD. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Emergency authorities to expand use of telehealth and provide flexibilities for MOUD provision during the pandemic were used by Medicare beneficiaries initiating an episode of OUD-related care and were associated with improved retention in care and reduced odds of medically treated overdose. Strategies to expand provision of MOUD and increase retention in care are urgently needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher M. Jones
- National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, US Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Carla Shoff
- Information Products and Analytics Group, US Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Kevin Hodges
- Information Products and Analytics Group, US Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Carlos Blanco
- National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Jan L. Losby
- National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, US Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Shari M. Ling
- US Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Wilson M. Compton
- National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
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Abstract
This paper is the forty-third consecutive installment of the annual anthological review of research concerning the endogenous opioid system, summarizing articles published during 2020 that studied the behavioral effects of molecular, pharmacological and genetic manipulation of opioid peptides and receptors as well as effects of opioid/opiate agonists and antagonists. The review is subdivided into the following specific topics: molecular-biochemical effects and neurochemical localization studies of endogenous opioids and their receptors (1), the roles of these opioid peptides and receptors in pain and analgesia in animals (2) and humans (3), opioid-sensitive and opioid-insensitive effects of nonopioid analgesics (4), opioid peptide and receptor involvement in tolerance and dependence (5), stress and social status (6), learning and memory (7), eating and drinking (8), drug abuse and alcohol (9), sexual activity and hormones, pregnancy, development and endocrinology (10), mental illness and mood (11), seizures and neurologic disorders (12), electrical-related activity and neurophysiology (13), general activity and locomotion (14), gastrointestinal, renal and hepatic functions (15), cardiovascular responses (16), respiration and thermoregulation (17), and immunological responses (18).
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard J Bodnar
- Department of Psychology and Neuropsychology Doctoral Sub-Program, Queens College, City University of New York, Flushing, NY, 11367, United States.
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7
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Webb L, Shi X, Goodair C, Cheeta S. Trends in Mortality From Novel Psychoactive Substances as "Legal Highs": Gender Differences in Manner of Death and Implications for Risk Differences for Women. Front Psychiatry 2022; 13:890840. [PMID: 35530022 PMCID: PMC9069007 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2022.890840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction This study aimed to examine drug-related deaths in the UK in which novel psychoactive substances (NPS) are an implicated substance, and to focus on female deaths in comparison with male deaths. While male overdoses dominate epidemiological statistics, there is an increase in female drug-related deaths and a narrowing of the gap between gender mortality rates which is to date unexplained. Method This study analyzed data from the National Programme for Substance Abuse Deaths (NPSAD) database that records drug-related deaths in the UK from coronial records. A dataset was constructed using parameters to capture all drug-related cases during the period 2007-2017 when NPS were legal and highly available in the UK, in order to capture deaths recorded among both regular and occasional drug users, and to include all cases recorded during that period regardless of NPS status in order to make comparisons. The final dataset comprised 10,159 cases, with 456 NPS-related deaths. Data for NPS and non-NPS were compared, and comparisons were made between cohorts by gender. The dataset also includes coronial narrative notes which allowed a qualitative analysis of NPS female deaths to add contextual explanation. Results The proportion of male NPS deaths is significantly higher than that for female NPS deaths but does not reflect the generalized difference between male and female drug-related mortality of this period studied. Demographic and outcome data by gender difference were significant for all drug-related deaths, but not for NPS-only deaths, indicating a greater homogeneity among NPS deaths by gender. Older women using NPS were more likely to have methadone or diazepam as another drug implicated and have established histories of drug misuse. Conclusion Where NPS have been used, differences in drug death profiles are less likely to be accounted for by gender than other demographic or behavioral differences more typically found in opiate deaths. The social and health problems of older women may be key characteristics that differentiate female deaths from male deaths. These findings also support evidence of increasing uptake of NPS among older established drug users that adds further risk to polydrug use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucy Webb
- Department of Nursing, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Xin Shi
- School of Maths and Information Science, Shangdong Technology and Business University, Yantai, China
- Business School, All Saints Campus, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Christine Goodair
- St George's Hospital Medical School, University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Survjit Cheeta
- Department of Life Sciences, Brunel University, London, United Kingdom
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Sprague JE, Yeh AB, Lan Q, Vieson J, McCorkle M. COVID-19 economic impact payments and opioid overdose deaths. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2022; 102:103608. [PMID: 35131687 PMCID: PMC8801311 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2022.103608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Revised: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
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Scheidell JD, Ataiants J, Lankenau SE. Miscarriage and Abortion Among Women Attending Harm Reduction Services in Philadelphia: Correlations With Individual, Interpersonal, and Structural Factors. Subst Use Misuse 2022; 57:999-1006. [PMID: 35277115 PMCID: PMC9101319 DOI: 10.1080/10826084.2022.2046100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Background: Reproductive health research among women who use drugs has focused on pregnancy prevention and perinatal/neonatal outcomes, but there have been few investigations of miscarriage and abortion, including prevalence and associated factors. Methods: Using cross-sectional data from a sample of non-pregnant women receiving harm reduction services in Philadelphia in 2016-2017 we examined lifetime miscarriage and abortion (n = 187). Separately for both outcomes, we used modified Poisson regression to estimate prevalence ratios (PR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for associations with each correlate. We also explored correlates of reporting both miscarriage and abortion. Results: Approximately 47% experienced miscarriage, 42% experienced abortion, and 18% experienced both. Miscarriage correlates included: prescription opioid misuse (e.g., OxyContin PR 1.82, 95% CI 1.23, 2.69); 40% increase in prevalence associated with housing instability, 50% increase with survival sex, and two-fold increase with arrest. Abortion correlates included: mental health (e.g., depression PR 2.09, 95% CI 1.18, 3.71), stimulant use (e.g., methamphetamine PR 1.83, 95% CI 1.22, 2.74), and drug injection (PR 1.76, 95% CI 1.03, 3.02); partner controlling access to people/possessions, physical and emotional violence; and a two-fold increase associated with survival sex and arrest. Experiencing both reproductive outcomes was correlated with mental health, opioid and simulant use, housing instability, survival sex, and arrest. Conclusion: Miscarriage and abortion was common among women with history of drug misuse suggesting a need for expanded access to family planning, medication-assisted therapy, and social support services, and for the integration of these with substance use services. Future research in longitudinal data is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joy D Scheidell
- Department of Population Health, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Janna Ataiants
- Department of Community Health and Prevention, Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Stephen E Lankenau
- Department of Community Health and Prevention, Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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Wang Y, Zuo J, Wang L, Wang Q, Wang X, Yang Q, Wu HE, Goodman CB, Wang D, Liu T, Zhang X. The Association of Drug-Use Characteristics and Active Coping Styles With Positive Affect in Patients With Heroin-Use Disorder and Methamphetamine-Use Disorder During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Front Public Health 2021; 9:739068. [PMID: 34926370 PMCID: PMC8677928 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2021.739068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Positive affect (PA) is crucial for individuals to cope with the current pandemic and buffer the lingering fears after it, especially for patients with substance-use disorders (SUDs). The current study aimed to explore PA and its related factors during the COVID-19 pandemic in male patients with the heroin-use disorder (HUD) and patients with the methamphetamine-use disorder (MAUD), respectively. Methods: A total of 325 male patients with SUDs (106 with HUD and 219 with MAUD, all were single-substance users) in a compulsory rehabilitation center underwent semi-structured interviews during the pandemic. The demographic information, drug-use characteristics, active coping styles (ACSs, by Simple Coping Style Questionnaire), and PA (by the Positive and Negative Affect Scale) of participants were collected and recorded. Results: There were significant differences between the two groups in age, the proportion of full-time workers before the epidemic, duration of drug use, the proportion of patients with long-term withdrawal during the epidemic, cravings, ACS, and PA. Correlation and multiple linear regression analysis showed that duration of drug use, ACS, and stable jobs were significant predictive factors for PA in patients with HUD, while long-term withdrawal, ACS, and stable jobs during the epidemic were significant predictive factors for PA in patients with MAUD. Conclusions: Our study demonstrated the factors for PA in patients with HUD and MAUD during the pandemic. The results provided a basis for the comprehensive understanding of the PA of patients with SUDs and the development of targeted treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingying Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jinsong Zuo
- School of Life Science and Chemistry, Hunan University of Technology, Zhuzhou, China
| | - Long Wang
- Sanming Taijiang Hospital, Sanming, China
| | - Qianjin Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Qian Yang
- Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Hanjing Emily Wu
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Colin B Goodman
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Dongmei Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Tieqiao Liu
- Department of Psychiatry, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China.,National Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xiangyang Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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Lay knowledge and practices of methamphetamine use to manage opioid-related overdose risks. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2021; 99:103463. [PMID: 34619443 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2021.103463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Revised: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
AIM Methamphetamine use has increased among individuals with opioid use disorder. The key aims of this study are to detail and contextualise lay knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours related to methamphetamine use in relation to opioid overdose risks in an area dominated by non-pharmaceutical fentanyl-type drugs (NPF). METHODS The study recruited 41 individuals in Dayton, Ohio, who reported past 30-day use of methamphetamine and heroin/fentanyl. Interviews included structured and qualitative questions. Urine toxicology analysis was conducted to identify NPFs and other drugs. Open-ended interview sections were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analysed qualitatively using NVivo. RESULTS The mean age was 38.3 years, 51% were female, and 100% non-Hispanic white. Participants described an exceedingly unpredictable local opioid market that became saturated with NPFs. The sample tested positive for 10 NPFs, including fentanyl (100%), acetyl fentanyl (61%), tetrahydrofuran fentanyl (29%), and carfentanil (12%). Most participants believed that methamphetamine could help prevent and/or reverse an opioid-related overdose. Nearly half had personally used it to help manage overdose risks related to NPF. These beliefs were embedded in a lay understanding of how methamphetamine works to stimulate the cardiovascular system. They were acted upon in the context of last resort situations that were determined by a lack of immediate access to naloxone, ambiguities surrounding overdose symptomatology, and easy access to plentiful and inexpensive methamphetamine. CONCLUSION Lay efforts to rely on methamphetamine to manage NPF-related overdose risks highlight the need for a continuing expansion of take-home-naloxone programs and implementation of other novel harm reduction approaches in communities affected by NPFs.
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Jones CM, Diallo MM, Vythilingam M, Schier JG, Eisenstat M, Compton WM. Characteristics and correlates of U.S. clinicians prescribing buprenorphine for opioid use disorder treatment using expanded authorities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Drug Alcohol Depend 2021; 225:108783. [PMID: 34049102 PMCID: PMC9186054 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2021.108783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Revised: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND To determine how clinicians with a DATA waiver to prescribe buprenorphine for opioid use disorder (OUD) adapted during the COVID-19 pandemic to emergency authorities, including use of telehealth to prescribe buprenorphine, the challenges faced by clinicians, and strategies employed by them to manage patients with OUD. METHODS From June 23, 2020 to August 19, 2020, we conducted an electronic survey of U.S. DATA-waivered clinicians. Descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression were used for analysis. RESULTS Among 10,238 respondents, 68 % were physicians, 25 % nursing-related providers, and 6% physician assistants; 28 % reported never prescribing or not prescribing in the 12 months prior to the survey. Among the 72 % of clinicians who reported past 12-month buprenorphine prescribing (i.e. active practitioners during the pandemic) 30 % reported their practice setting closed to in-person visits during COVID-19; 33 % reported remote prescribing to new patients without an in-person examination. The strongest predictors of remote buprenorphine prescribing to new patients were prescribing buprenorphine to larger numbers of patients in an average month in the past year and closure of the practice setting during the pandemic; previous experience with remote prescribing to established patients prior to COVID-19 also was a significant predictor. Among clinicians prescribing to new patients without an in-person examination, 5.5 % reported difficulties with buprenorphine induction, most commonly withdrawal symptoms. CONCLUSIONS Telehealth practices and prescribing to new patients without an in-person examination were adopted by DATA-waivered clinicians during the first six months of COVID-19. Permanent adoption of these authorities may enable expanded access to buprenorphine treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher M Jones
- National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States.
| | - Mamadou M Diallo
- National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Meena Vythilingam
- Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Joshua G Schier
- National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Matthew Eisenstat
- National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Wilson M Compton
- National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
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Lamonica AK, Boeri M, Turner J. Circumstances of overdose among suburban women who use opioids: Extending an urban analysis informed by drug, set, and setting. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2021; 90:103082. [PMID: 33373906 PMCID: PMC8046719 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2020.103082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Revised: 11/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Opioid overdoses are primarily discussed by the pharmacological properties of the drugs used. Research shows that other factors such as the social/physical environment and the mental/emotional states can have an impact on overdose events. Ataiants and colleagues (2020) used Zinberg's "drug, set, and setting" framework to identify circumstances surrounding overdose experiences of street-involved women in Philadelphia. The aim of this paper is to extend their analysis to a diverse sample of suburban women who experienced overdoses. METHODS The mixed-methods design consisted of ethnographic fieldwork, in-depth interviews, and brief surveys with 32 suburban women who use opioids. Inductive theoretical reasoning and constant comparative analysis facilitated themes emerging within the "drug, set, and setting" framework. RESULTS Eighteen out of 32 women identified "drug" as the primary factor involved in their overdose events. Major themes were an inability to identify the synthetic opioid fentanyl, lack of knowledge or control over how much to use, poly-substance use, and an insufficient understanding of risks. Eleven out of 32 women linked "set" to their overdose experiences. Themes included emotional trauma, such as death of a child, child custody issues, and mental health conditions, such as depression. Six out of 32 women associated "setting" with one of their overdose experiences. Themes were related to being with friends or partners that used, and having recently been released from treatment or incarceration. CONCLUSION Findings show similar themes found among an urban sample, adding insight on the need for effective overdose interventions targeted for suburban populations. The opioid crisis is not confined to the cities, and neither should services aimed at addressing opioid overdose. The knowledge provided here can help policy makers support female-centered harm reduction services not only in urban areas but also in the suburbs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aukje K Lamonica
- Southern Connecticut State University, 501 Crescent Street, New Haven, CT 06515, United States.
| | - Miriam Boeri
- Bentley University, 175 Forest Street, Waltham, MA 02452, United States
| | - Jeffrey Turner
- Southern Connecticut State University, 501 Crescent Street, New Haven, CT 06515, United States
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Schwartz DG, Ataiants J, Roth A, Marcu G, Yahav I, Cocchiaro B, Khalemsky M, Lankenau S. Layperson reversal of opioid overdose supported by smartphone alert: A prospective observational cohort study. EClinicalMedicine 2020; 25:100474. [PMID: 32954238 PMCID: PMC7486335 DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2020.100474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rapid naloxone administration is crucial in reversing an opioid overdose. We investigated whether equipping community members, including people who use opioids (PWUO), with a smartphone application enabling them to signal and respond to suspected overdose would support naloxone administration in advance of Emrgency Medical Services (EMS). METHODS This observational cohort study of opioid overdose intervention used a dedicated smartphone app, UnityPhilly, activated by volunteers witnessing an overdose to signal other nearby volunteers in Philadelphia (March 2019 - February 2020). Alerted volunteers chose to respond, or declined to respond, or ignored/missed the alert. Witnessing volunteer was connected to 9-1-1 through a semi-automated telephone call. The primary outcome was layperson-initiated overdose reversal before EMS arrival, and a secondary outcome was hospital transfer. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03305497. FINDINGS 112 volunteers, including 57 PWUO and 55 community members, signaled 291 suspected opioid overdose alerts. 89 (30⸱6%) were false alarms. For 202 true alerts, the rate of layperson initiated naloxone use was 36⸱6% (74/202 cases). Most naloxone-use cases occurred in the street (58⸱11% (43/74)) and some in home settings (22⸱98% (17/74)). The first naloxone dose was provided by a nearby volunteer responding to the alert in 29⸱73% (22/74) of cases and by the signaling volunteer in 70⸱27% (52/74) of cases. Successful reversal was reported in 95⸱9% (71/74) of cases. Layperson intervention preceded EMS by 5 min or more in 59⸱5% of cases. Recovery without hospital transport was reported in 52⸱7% (39/74) of cases. INTERPRETATION Our findings support the benefits of equipping community members, potentially witnessing suspected opioid overdose, with naloxone and an emergency response community smartphone app, alerting EMS and nearby laypersons to provide additional naloxone. FUNDING Funding provided by NIH through NIDA, grant number: 5R34DA044758.
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Affiliation(s)
- David G. Schwartz
- Information Systems Division, Graduate School of Business, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
- Corresponding author.
| | - Janna Ataiants
- Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Alexis Roth
- Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Gabriela Marcu
- School of Information, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Inbal Yahav
- Coller School of Management, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Benjamin Cocchiaro
- Center for Public Health Initiatives, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Michael Khalemsky
- Information Systems Division, Graduate School of Business, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Stephen Lankenau
- Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Henry BF, Mandavia AD, Paschen-Wolff MM, Hunt T, Humensky JL, Wu E, Pincus HA, Nunes EV, Levin FR, El-Bassel N. COVID-19, mental health, and opioid use disorder: Old and new public health crises intertwine. PSYCHOLOGICAL TRAUMA-THEORY RESEARCH PRACTICE AND POLICY 2020; 12:S111-S112. [PMID: 32551759 DOI: 10.1037/tra0000660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The United States is facing both the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and an ongoing epidemic of opioid overdose. Opioid use disorder is associated with other mental health problems, trauma, and social and health disparities. While the United States has acted to improve access to treatment for mental health and opioid use, research will be needed to understand the effectiveness of new policies in the context of COVID-19. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).
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