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Cherian T, Lim S, Katyal M, Goldfeld KS, McDonald R, Wiewel E, Khan M, Krawczyk N, Braunstein S, Murphy SM, Jalali A, Jeng PJ, Rosner Z, MacDonald R, Lee JD. Impact of jail-based methadone or buprenorphine treatment on non-fatal opioid overdose after incarceration. Drug Alcohol Depend 2024; 259:111274. [PMID: 38643529 PMCID: PMC11111329 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2024.111274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Non-fatal overdose is a leading predictor of subsequent fatal overdose. For individuals who are incarcerated, the risk of experiencing an overdose is highest when transitioning from a correctional setting to the community. We assessed if enrollment in jail-based medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) is associated with lower risk of non-fatal opioid overdoses after jail release among individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD). METHODS This was a retrospective, observational cohort study of adults with OUD who were incarcerated in New York City jails and received MOUD or did not receive any MOUD (out-of-treatment) within the last three days before release to the community in 2011-2017. The outcome was the first non-fatal opioid overdose emergency department (ED) visit within 1 year of jail release during 2011-2017. Covariates included demographic, clinical, incarceration-related, and other characteristics. We performed multivariable cause-specific Cox proportional hazards regression analysis to compare the risk of non-fatal opioid overdose ED visits within 1 year after jail release between groups. RESULTS MOUD group included 8660 individuals with 17,119 incarcerations; out-of-treatment group included 10,163 individuals with 14,263 incarcerations. Controlling for covariates and accounting for competing risks, in-jail MOUD was associated with lower non-fatal opioid overdose risk within 14 days after jail release (adjusted HR=0.49, 95% confidence interval=0.33-0.74). We found no significant differences 15-28, 29-56, or 57-365 days post-release. CONCLUSION MOUD group had lower risk of non-fatal opioid overdose immediately after jail release. Wider implementation of MOUD in US jails could potentially reduce post-release overdoses, ED utilization, and associated healthcare costs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teena Cherian
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 42-09 28th Street, Queens, NY 11101, USA.
| | - Sungwoo Lim
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 42-09 28th Street, Queens, NY 11101, USA
| | - Monica Katyal
- New York City Health + Hospitals/Correctional Health Services, 55 Water Street, New York, NY 10041, USA
| | - Keith S Goldfeld
- New York University Grossman School of Medicine, 180 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10010, USA
| | - Ryan McDonald
- New York University Grossman School of Medicine, 180 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10010, USA
| | - Ellen Wiewel
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 42-09 28th Street, Queens, NY 11101, USA
| | - Maria Khan
- New York University Grossman School of Medicine, 180 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10010, USA
| | - Noa Krawczyk
- New York University Grossman School of Medicine, 180 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10010, USA
| | - Sarah Braunstein
- New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, 42-09 28th Street, Queens, NY 11101, USA
| | - Sean M Murphy
- Weill Cornell Medical College, 425 East 61st Street, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Ali Jalali
- Weill Cornell Medical College, 425 East 61st Street, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Philip J Jeng
- Weill Cornell Medical College, 425 East 61st Street, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Zachary Rosner
- New York City Health + Hospitals/Correctional Health Services, 55 Water Street, New York, NY 10041, USA
| | - Ross MacDonald
- New York University Grossman School of Medicine, 180 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10010, USA
| | - Joshua D Lee
- New York University Grossman School of Medicine, 180 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10010, USA
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Amanollahi A, Babeveynezhad T, Sedighi M, Shadnia S, Akbari S, Taheri M, Besharatpour M, Jorjani G, Salehian E, Etemad K, Mehrabi Y. Incidence of rhabdomyolysis occurrence in psychoactive substances intoxication: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Sci Rep 2023; 13:17693. [PMID: 37848606 PMCID: PMC10582156 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-45031-4] [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: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Rhabdomyolysis is a potentially life-threatening condition induced by diverse mechanisms including drugs and toxins. We aimed to investigate the incidence of rhabdomyolysis occurrence in intoxicated patients with psychoactive substances. In this review, three databases (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science) and search engine (Google Scholar) were searched by various keywords. After the screening of retrieved documents, related data of included studies were extracted and analyzed with weighted mean difference (WMD) in random effect model. The highest incidence of rhabdomyolysis was observed in intoxication with heroin (57.2 [95% CI 22.6-91.8]), amphetamines (30.5 [95% CI 22.6-38.5]), and cocaine (26.6 [95% CI 11.1-42.1]). The pooled effect size for blood urea nitrogen (WMD = 8.78, p = 0.002), creatinine (WMD = 0.44, p < 0.001), and creatinine phosphokinase (WMD = 2590.9, p < 0.001) was high in patients with rhabdomyolysis compared to patients without rhabdomyolysis. Our results showed a high incidence of rhabdomyolysis induced by psychoactive substance intoxication in ICU patients when compared to total wards. Also, the incidence of rhabdomyolysis occurrence was high in ICU patients with heroin and amphetamine intoxication. Therefore, clinicians should anticipate this complication, monitor for rhabdomyolysis, and institute appropriate treatment protocols early in the patient's clinical course.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alireza Amanollahi
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Mohsen Sedighi
- Trauma and Injury Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shahin Shadnia
- Department of Clinical Toxicology, Loghman Hakim Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sadaf Akbari
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Mahbobeh Taheri
- Skull Base Research Center, Loghman Hakim Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahboobeh Besharatpour
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Goljamal Jorjani
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Elham Salehian
- Resources Development Deputy, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Koorosh Etemad
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Yadollah Mehrabi
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Holmén E, Warnqvist A, Kåberg M. Sweden's first Take-Home Naloxone program: participant characteristics, dose endpoints and predictors for overdose reversals. Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy 2023; 18:24. [PMID: 37087485 PMCID: PMC10121425 DOI: 10.1186/s13011-023-00533-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 04/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Opioid overdoses are a growing concern, particularly among people who inject drugs. Sweden, with a comparatively high proportion of drug-related mortality, introduced its first Take-Home Naloxone (THN) program in 2018, at the Stockholm needle and syringe program (NSP). In this study we compare THN participant characteristics regarding refills and overdose reversals as well as investigate predictors associated with number of reversals. We also investigate interventions performed in overdose situations and endpoints for naloxone doses. METHODS This was a prospective open inclusion cohort study conducted between January 24th 2018 and March 31st 2022 at the Stockholm NSP. Participants received THN, free of charge, after a training session and provided data regarding drug use and overdose experiences. During refill visits, participants reported if the naloxone was used for overdose reversal and, if so, responded to a ten-item questionnaire which included stating whether the naloxone recipient was the participant themselves or somebody else. Questionnaire data was combined with NSP database demographic data. Zero-inflated Poisson regression was applied to analyse predictors for number of reported overdose reversals. RESULTS Among study participants (n = 1,295), 66.5% stated opioids as their primary drug, and 61.4% and 81.0% had previous experience of a personal or witnessed overdose, respectively. Overall, 44.0% of participants reported a total of 1,625 overdose reversals and the victim was known to have survived in 95.6% of cases. Stimulant use (aIRR 1.26; 95% CI 1.01, 1.58), benzodiazepine use (aIRR 1.75; 95% CI 1.1, 2.78) and homelessness (aIRR 1.35; 95% CI 1.06, 1.73) were predictors associated with an increased number of reported overdose reversals. Mortality was higher among those who reported at least one overdose reversal (HR 3.4; 95% CI 2.2, 5.2). CONCLUSIONS An NSP's existent framework can be utilised to effectively implement a THN program, provide basic training and reach numerous high-risk individuals. During the four-year study, THN participants reversed a sizeable number of potentially fatal overdoses, of which many were reported by participants whose primary drug was not opioids. Naloxone refill rate was high, indicating that participants were motivated to maintain a supply of naloxone in case of future overdose events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elin 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.
| | - Anna Warnqvist
- Division of Biostatistics, Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Martin Kåberg
- Stockholm Needle and Syringe Program, Stockholm Centre for Dependency Disorders, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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Lowrie R, McPherson A, Mair FS, Stock K, Jones C, Maguire D, Paudyal V, Duncan C, Blair B, Lombard C, Ross S, Hughes F, Moir J, Scott A, Reilly F, Sills L, Hislop J, Farmer N, Lucey S, Wishart S, Provan G, Robertson R, Williamson A. Baseline characteristics of people experiencing homelessness with a recent drug overdose in the PHOENIx pilot randomised controlled trial. Harm Reduct J 2023; 20:46. [PMID: 37016418 PMCID: PMC10071267 DOI: 10.1186/s12954-023-00771-4] [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: 11/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Drug-related deaths in Scotland are the highest in Europe. Half of all deaths in people experiencing homelessness are drug related, yet we know little about the unmet health needs of people experiencing homelessness with recent non-fatal overdose, limiting a tailored practice and policy response to a public health crisis. METHODS People experiencing homelessness with at least one non-fatal street drug overdose in the previous 6 months were recruited from 20 venues in Glasgow, Scotland, and randomised into PHOENIx plus usual care, or usual care. PHOENIx is a collaborative assertive outreach intervention by independent prescriber NHS Pharmacists and third sector homelessness workers, offering repeated integrated, holistic physical, mental and addictions health and social care support including prescribing. We describe comprehensive baseline characteristics of randomised participants. RESULTS One hundred and twenty-eight participants had a mean age of 42 years (SD 8.4); 71% male, homelessness for a median of 24 years (IQR 12-30). One hundred and eighteen (92%) lived in large, congregate city centre temporary accommodation. A quarter (25%) were not registered with a General Practitioner. Participants had overdosed a mean of 3.2 (SD 3.2) times in the preceding 6 months, using a median of 3 (IQR 2-4) non-prescription drugs concurrently: 112 (87.5%) street valium (benzodiazepine-type new psychoactive substances); 77 (60%) heroin; and 76 (59%) cocaine. Half (50%) were injecting, 50% into their groins. 90% were receiving care from Alcohol and Drug Recovery Services (ADRS), and in addition to using street drugs, 90% received opioid substitution therapy (OST), 10% diazepam for street valium use and one participant received heroin-assisted treatment. Participants had a mean of 2.2 (SD 1.3) mental health problems and 5.4 (SD 2.5) physical health problems; 50% received treatment for physical or mental health problems. Ninety-one per cent had at least one mental health problem; 66% had no specialist mental health support. Participants were frail (70%) or pre-frail (28%), with maximal levels of psychological distress, 44% received one or no daily meal, and 58% had previously attempted suicide. CONCLUSIONS People at high risk of drug-related death continue to overdose repeatedly despite receiving OST. High levels of frailty, multimorbidity, unsuitable accommodation and unmet mental and physical health care needs require a reorientation of services informed by evidence of effectiveness and cost-effectiveness. Trial registration UK Clinical Trials Registry identifier: ISRCTN 10585019.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Lowrie
- Pharmacy Services, Homeless Health/Research and Development, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Glasgow, G76 7AT, Scotland, UK.
| | - Andrew McPherson
- Pharmacy Services, Homeless Health/Research and Development, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Glasgow, G76 7AT, Scotland, UK
| | - Frances S Mair
- General Practice and Primary Care, School of Health and Wellbeing, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
| | - Kate Stock
- Pharmacy Services, Homeless Health/Research and Development, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Glasgow, G76 7AT, Scotland, UK
| | - Caitlin Jones
- General Practice and Primary Care, School of Health and Wellbeing, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
| | - Donogh Maguire
- Emergency Medicine, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
| | - Vibhu Paudyal
- School of Pharmacy, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, England, UK
| | - Clare Duncan
- Addictions Psychiatry, NHS Ayrshire and Arran, Crosshouse, Scotland, UK
| | - Becky Blair
- Pharmacy Services, Homeless Health/Research and Development, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Glasgow, G76 7AT, Scotland, UK
| | - Cian Lombard
- Pharmacy Services, Homeless Health/Research and Development, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Glasgow, G76 7AT, Scotland, UK
| | - Steven Ross
- Simon Community Scotland Street Team, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
| | - Fiona Hughes
- Pharmacy Services, Homeless Health/Research and Development, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Glasgow, G76 7AT, Scotland, UK
| | - Jane Moir
- Pharmacy Services, Homeless Health/Research and Development, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Glasgow, G76 7AT, Scotland, UK
| | - Ailsa Scott
- Simon Community Scotland Street Team, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
| | - Frank Reilly
- Simon Community Scotland Street Team, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
| | - Laura Sills
- East End Addictions Services, Alcohol and Drug Recovery Service, Glasgow Health and Social Care Partnership, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Glasgow, UK
| | | | - Natalia Farmer
- Department of Social work, School of Health and Life Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow, UK
| | - Sharon Lucey
- Pharmacy Services, Homeless Health/Research and Development, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, Glasgow, G76 7AT, Scotland, UK
| | | | - George Provan
- Simon Community Scotland Street Team, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
| | - Roy Robertson
- Usher Institute, College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Andrea Williamson
- General Practice and Primary Care, School of Health and Wellbeing, College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
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Hartung DM, McCracken CM, Nguyen T, Kempany K, Waddell EN. Fatal and nonfatal opioid overdose risk following release from prison: A retrospective cohort study using linked administrative data. JOURNAL OF SUBSTANCE USE AND ADDICTION TREATMENT 2023; 147:208971. [PMID: 36821990 DOI: 10.1016/j.josat.2023.208971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Among individuals who are released from prison, opioid overdose is a leading cause of death with a risk more than ten-fold the general population. Although the epidemiology of opioid-related fatalities has been described, few studies have characterized both fatal and nonfatal opioid-related poisonings. The objective of this study was to estimate risk of fatal and nonfatal opioid overdose among adults released from prison. METHODS The study estimated fatal and nonfatal opioid overdose rates using linked corrections, Medicaid, hospital discharge, and vital statistics from the state of Oregon from 2014 to 2018. Multivariable proportional hazards models identified demographic and prison-related factors associated with overdose. RESULTS Between 2014 and 2017, 18,258 individuals were released from prison. A majority of individuals were male (87 %) and ages 26 to 64 (83 %). Two-thirds had a documented substance use disorder treatment need and 20 % demonstrated mental health treatment need. Following prison release, 579 opioid overdose events occurred; 65 (11 %) were fatal. The rate of opioid overdose was 1085.7 per 100,000 person-years (PY). Rates were highest in the first two weeks (2286.7 per 100,000 PY), among women (1582.9 per 100,000 PY), and those with mental health (1624.3 per 100,000 PY) or substance use disorder treatment needs (1382.6 per 100,100 PY). Only mental health (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.54, 95 % CI 1.24 to 1.90) and substance use need (aHR 2.59; 95 % CI 2.01 to 3.34) remained significant in multivariable models. CONCLUSIONS The rate of opioid overdose is markedly elevated after prison release, particularly in the first two weeks. In women, the higher rate of opioid overdose is mediated by a greater mental health burden.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel M Hartung
- College of Pharmacy, Oregon State University, Portland, OR, United States of America.
| | - Caitlin M McCracken
- College of Pharmacy, Oregon State University, Portland, OR, United States of America
| | - Thuan Nguyen
- OHSU-Portland State University School Public Health, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States of America
| | - Katherine Kempany
- Oregon Department of Corrections, Salem, OR, United States of America
| | - Elizabeth Needham Waddell
- OHSU-Portland State University School Public Health, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States of America
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Curtis M, Dietze P, Winter RJ, Rathnayake K, Smith K, Stoove M. Non-fatal opioid overdose after release from prison among men who injected drugs prior to their imprisonment: a prospective data linkage study. Med J Aust 2023; 218:94-95. [PMID: 36344250 PMCID: PMC10952488 DOI: 10.5694/mja2.51774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Michael Curtis
- Burnet InstituteMelbourneVIC
- Monash UniversityMelbourneVIC
| | - Paul Dietze
- Burnet InstituteMelbourneVIC
- Monash UniversityMelbourneVIC
| | | | | | - Karen Smith
- Monash UniversityMelbourneVIC
- Ambulance VictoriaMelbourneVIC
| | - Mark Stoove
- Burnet InstituteMelbourneVIC
- Monash UniversityMelbourneVIC
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Rich KM, Solomon DA. Medical Complications of Injection Drug Use - Part I. NEJM EVIDENCE 2023; 2:EVIDra2200292. [PMID: 38320040 DOI: 10.1056/evidra2200292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
Medical Complications of Injection Drug Use - Part IDuring the past 2 decades, the risk of death and the prevalence of hospitalizations in the United States have increased substantially among people who inject drugs, in large part because of the opioid epidemic. This article reviews the complications observed in people who inject drugs as well as strategies to reduce harm.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Daniel A Solomon
- Harvard Medical School, Boston
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston
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Polysubstance Use in Adults With Opioid Use Disorder Receiving Buprenorphine Maintenance. J Addict Med 2023; 17:74-78. [PMID: 35793664 DOI: 10.1097/adm.0000000000001039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Studying polysubstance use is a public health recommendation. In the United Arab Emirates, more than 80% of adults with opioid use disorder (OUD) use 2 or more nonopioid substances. This secondary analysis contrasts the characteristics of polysubstance users (OUD + ≥1 nonopioid) with OUD, explores the correlates and predictors of nonfatal overdose, and examines the impact of polysubstance use on OUD treatment outcomes using buprenorphine (BUP). METHODS This analysis uses data from a 16-week outpatient randomized controlled trial of 141 adults with OUD allocated to BUP + incentivized adherence and abstinence monitoring (n = 70) and BUP in usual care (control, n = 71). Outcomes were nonfatal overdose events over the preceding 12 months, positive drug screens, and treatment retention. Participant characteristics were contrasted, and bivariate statistical tests were conducted for simple associations followed by logistic regression. RESULTS Polysubstance use was reported by 117 participants (82.9%), the majority of whom used pregabalin 72.1% (n = 75). Compared with OUD, polysubstance users observed higher arrests (median, 1.0 [interquartile range, 0.0-3.0] vs 0.5 [interquartile range, 0.0-2.0]; P = 0.04]) and nonfatal overdose events (n = 33 [31.8%] vs 2 [10.8%], P = 0.003). Carisoprodol and injecting drug use independently predicted nonfatal overdose (adjusted odds ratio, 4.519 [95% confidence interval, 1.81-11.22] and 2.74 [95% confidence interval, 1.15-6.51], respectively). No significant difference was observed in opioid use and retention in treatment outcomes between groups. CONCLUSION Carisoprodol and injecting drug use increase the likelihood of nonfatal overdose in adults with OUD. Polysubstance use does not impact response to BUP treatment compared with OUD.
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Armoon B, Griffiths MD, Bayani A, Mohammadi R, Ahounbar E. Prevalence and associates of non-fatal overdose among people who inject drugs in Saveh, Iran. Addict Sci Clin Pract 2022; 17:42. [PMID: 35927753 PMCID: PMC9351099 DOI: 10.1186/s13722-022-00325-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background As a public health issue, non-fatal overdose (NFOD) is highly prevalent among people who inject drugs (PWID). This can lead to an elevated risk of future overdose, causing various harms including possible death. It is essential to improve knowledge concerning this problem and its associated risk factors to inform overdose prevention and assistance programs. The primary aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of NFOD and associated risk factors among PWID in Saveh, Iran. Methods In the present cross-sectional study, 272 PWID living in Saveh, Iran were interviewed face-to-face using a structured survey. Data concerning socio-demographics, substance use, risky behaviors, and services utilization data were collected. The outcome variable (i.e., NFOD) was assessed by answering “Yes” to the question: “In the past three months, have you ever overdosed (at least once) by accident?” Results The prevalence of NFOD among PWID in the past three months was 54%. The characteristics and behaviors that were associated with an increased risk of experiencing NFOD in the past three months were being of older age (AOR = 5.2, p < 0.05), drug use initiation under the age of 22 years (AOR = 7.8, p < 0.05), being an alcohol user (AOR = 3.0, p < 0.05), and being a simultaneous multiple drug user (AOR = 5.8, p < 0.05). Also, more recent initiates to injecting (< 2 years) had an increased risk of experiencing a non-fatal overdose in the past three months. Findings also indicated that those who (i) attended a needle and syringe program (AOR: 0.3, p < 0.05), (ii) were visited by a general practitioner (AOR: 0.03, p < 0.05), and (iii) received a psychosocial intervention (AOR: 0.1, p < 0.05) were 0.3, 0.03 and 0.1 times less likely to report non-fatal overdosing than other participants, respectively. Conclusions The results indicate that intervention and prevention initiatives seeking to reduce NFOD among PWID should not only be focused on the primary drug used but also the use of alcohol and polysubstance use. Specific and tailored psychological interventions combined with pharmacotherapy may be highly beneficial for PWID who experience more severe types of substance use, including alcohol use disorders and/or polysubstance abuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bahram Armoon
- Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Saveh University of Medical Sciences, Saveh, Iran. .,School of Nursing and Midwifery, Saveh University of Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti Blvd, Shahid Fahmideh Blvd, 4th floor, Saveh, Markazi Province, Iran.
| | - Mark D Griffiths
- International Gaming Research Unit, Psychology Department, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK
| | - Azadeh Bayani
- Student Research Committee, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Rasool Mohammadi
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Nutrition, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
| | - Elaheh Ahounbar
- Orygen, The National Center of Excellence in Youth Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.,Center for Youth Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
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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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11
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Tomko C, Schneider KE, Rouhani S, Urquhart GJ, Nyeong Park J, Morris M, Sherman SG. Identifying pathways to recent non-fatal overdose among people who use opioids non-medically: How do psychological pain and unmet mental health need contribute to overdose risk? Addict Behav 2022; 127:107215. [PMID: 34953432 DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2021.107215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Significant associations exist between psychological pain, unmet mental health need, and frequency and severity of substance use among people who use drugs (PWUD), but no studies have analyzed the relationship of these variables to non-fatal overdose. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional survey of people who used opioids non-medically in Baltimore, Maryland (n = 563) as part of a broader harm reduction-focused evaluation (PROMOTE). The outcome was self-reported recent (past 6 months) non-fatal overdose; exposures of interest were recent self-reported unmet mental health need, experiencing daily "long-lasting psychological or mental pain" (vs. < daily), and daily multi-opioid use (vs. none/one opioid used). Path analysis was used to model direct relationships between these variables, personal characteristics (race, gender, experiencing homelessness, drug injection) and overdose. RESULTS 30% of the sample had experienced a recent non-fatal overdose, 46% reported unmet mental health need, 21% reported daily psychological pain, and 62% used multiple types of opioids daily. After adjusting for covariates, daily multi-opioid use (aOR = 1.78, p = 0.03) and unmet mental health need (aOR = 2.05, p = 0.01) were associated with direct, significant increased risk of recent overdose. Significant pathways associated with increased odds of unmet mental health need included woman gender (aOR = 2.23, p = 0.003) and daily psychological pain (aOR = 4.14, p = 0.002). In turn, unmet mental health need associated was with greater odds of daily multi-opioid use (aOR = 1.57, p = 0.05). DISCUSSION Unmet mental heath need and daily psychological pain are common experiences in this sample of PWUD. Unmet mental health need appears on several pathways to overdose and associated risk factors; improving access to mental healthcare for PWUD (particularly women) expressing need may be an important harm reduction measure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Tomko
- Department of Health, Behavior, and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States; Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States.
| | - Kristin E Schneider
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States
| | - Saba Rouhani
- Department of Health, Behavior, and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States
| | - Glenna J Urquhart
- Department of Health, Behavior, and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States
| | - Ju Nyeong Park
- Department of Health, Behavior, and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States
| | - Miles Morris
- Department of Health, Behavior, and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States
| | - Susan G Sherman
- Department of Health, Behavior, and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States
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12
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Troberg K, Lundqvist K, Hansson H, Håkansson A, Dahlman D. Healthcare seeking among Swedish patients in opioid substitution treatment - a mixed methods study on barriers and facilitators. Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy 2022; 17:8. [PMID: 35123518 PMCID: PMC8817477 DOI: 10.1186/s13011-022-00434-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients in opioid substitution treatment (OST) have poorer health than the general population. Thus, they do not seek somatic health care to the extent that is medically motivated. Barriers hindering patients from seeking medical help through the conventional healthcare system result in a high degree of unmet healthcare needs. Barriers to, and facilitators of, OST patients' healthcare seeking have been sparsely examined. METHODS Mixed methods were employed. The quantitative part consisted of a cross-sectional questionnaire covering questions on physical health, healthcare seeking, and barriers thereof, which was collected from 209 patients in OST. A sub-sample of eleven OST patients participated in semi-structured interviews, for the qualitative part of the study, covering experience of healthcare, lifestyle, and self-images, expectations, and ideals of Swedish healthcare. RESULTS Confirmed by qualitative data, quantitative data revealed deprioritization, fear of stigma and of being treated badly, and problems in navigation throughout the healthcare system, leading to unsuccessful establishment of contact, being most common reasons for not seeking somatic healthcare. Thus, interviewees provided a deeper knowledge of the barriers stigma, lack of means to prioritize health and difficulties navigating throughout the healthcare system, leading to resignation and deprioritization. On-site primary healthcare (PHC) seemed to contribute to increased access and utilization of healthcare. CONCLUSION Individual and structural barriers decreasing access to healthcare lead to increased inequalities in healthcare utilization, adding to an already deteriorating health of this ageing population. Integration of on-site primary healthcare and OST could provide acceptable and accessible healthcare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katja Troberg
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Psychiatry, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
- Malmö Addiction Centre, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden.
| | - Karin Lundqvist
- Center for Primary Health Care Research, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University/Region Skåne, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Helena Hansson
- School of Social Work, Faculty of Social Sciences, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Anders Håkansson
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Psychiatry, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Malmö Addiction Centre, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Disa Dahlman
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences Lund, Psychiatry, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
- Center for Primary Health Care Research, Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University/Region Skåne, Malmö, Sweden
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13
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Nelson KR, Dolbec K, Watson W, Yuan H, Ibraheem M. Review of Neurologic Comorbidities in Hospitalized Patients With Opioid Abuse. Neurol Clin Pract 2022; 11:527-533. [PMID: 34992960 DOI: 10.1212/cpj.0000000000001080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Purpose of Review To determine the prevalence and burden of neurologic comorbidities in hospitalized patients with opioid abuse. Recent Findings From 1 year of hospital discharges, 2,182 patients with opioid abuse were identified (prevalence 6.3%), with abuse greater among younger patients (p < 0.0001), women (p < 0.0001), Whites (p < 0.0001), and urban population (p = 0.028). Matching for age, sex, race, and urban-rural residence, 347 patients were reviewed, and 179 (52%) had a neurologic comorbidity. The comorbidities frequently overlapped and included encephalopathy (130), neuromuscular disorders (42), seizures (23), spine disorders (23), strokes (20), CNS infections (3), and movement disorders (2). Abuse patients with neurologic comorbidities experienced substantially greater number of hospital and intensive care unit days and mortality, independent of overdose. Summary Neurologic comorbidities are a frequent and heretofore underappreciated contributor to the disease burden of hospitalized patients with opioid abuse. The importance of neurologic comorbidities should be included in the public health discussions surrounding the opioid epidemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin R Nelson
- Department of Neurology (KRN, KD, WW, MI), University of Kentucky, Lexington; Department of Neurology (WW), Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD; Performance Analytics Center of Excellence (HY), University of Kentucky Health Care, Lexington; Department of Epidemiology (MI), University of Kentucky, Lexington; and Lexington VA Health Care System (Troy Bowling Campus) (MI), US Department of Veterans Affairs, KY
| | - Katelyn Dolbec
- Department of Neurology (KRN, KD, WW, MI), University of Kentucky, Lexington; Department of Neurology (WW), Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD; Performance Analytics Center of Excellence (HY), University of Kentucky Health Care, Lexington; Department of Epidemiology (MI), University of Kentucky, Lexington; and Lexington VA Health Care System (Troy Bowling Campus) (MI), US Department of Veterans Affairs, KY
| | - William Watson
- Department of Neurology (KRN, KD, WW, MI), University of Kentucky, Lexington; Department of Neurology (WW), Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD; Performance Analytics Center of Excellence (HY), University of Kentucky Health Care, Lexington; Department of Epidemiology (MI), University of Kentucky, Lexington; and Lexington VA Health Care System (Troy Bowling Campus) (MI), US Department of Veterans Affairs, KY
| | - Hanwen Yuan
- Department of Neurology (KRN, KD, WW, MI), University of Kentucky, Lexington; Department of Neurology (WW), Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD; Performance Analytics Center of Excellence (HY), University of Kentucky Health Care, Lexington; Department of Epidemiology (MI), University of Kentucky, Lexington; and Lexington VA Health Care System (Troy Bowling Campus) (MI), US Department of Veterans Affairs, KY
| | - Mam Ibraheem
- Department of Neurology (KRN, KD, WW, MI), University of Kentucky, Lexington; Department of Neurology (WW), Uniformed Services University, Bethesda, MD; Performance Analytics Center of Excellence (HY), University of Kentucky Health Care, Lexington; Department of Epidemiology (MI), University of Kentucky, Lexington; and Lexington VA Health Care System (Troy Bowling Campus) (MI), US Department of Veterans Affairs, KY
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14
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Keen C, Kinner SA, Young JT, Jang K, Gan W, Samji H, Zhao B, Krausz M, Slaunwhite A. Prevalence of co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorder and association with overdose: a linked data cohort study among residents of British Columbia, Canada. Addiction 2022; 117:129-140. [PMID: 34033179 DOI: 10.1111/add.15580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Revised: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
AIMS To estimate the treated prevalence of mental illness, substance use disorder (SUD) and dual diagnosis and the association between dual diagnosis and fatal and non-fatal overdose among residents of British Columbia (BC), Canada. DESIGN A retrospective cohort study using linked health, income assistance, corrections and death records. SETTING British Columbia (BC), Canada. PARTICIPANTS A total of 921 346 BC residents (455 549 males and 465 797 females) aged 10 years and older. MEASUREMENTS Hospital and primary-care administrative data were used to identify a history of mental illness only, SUD only, dual diagnosis or no history of SUD or mental illness (2010-14) and overdoses resulting in medical care (2015-17). We calculated crude incidence rates of non-fatal and fatal overdose by dual diagnosis history. Andersen-Gill and competing risks regression were used to examine the association between dual diagnosis and non-fatal and fatal overdose, respectively, adjusting for age, sex, comorbidities, incarceration history, social assistance, history of prescription opioid and benzodiazepine dispensing and region of residence. FINDINGS Of the 921 346 people in the cohort, 176 780 (19.2%), 6147 (0.7%) and 15 269 (1.7%) had a history of mental illness only, SUD only and dual diagnosis, respectively; 4696 (0.5%) people experienced 688 fatal and 6938 non-fatal overdoses. In multivariable analyses, mental illness only, SUD only and dual diagnosis were associated with increased rate of non-fatal [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.8, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.6-2.1; HR = 9.0, 95% CI = 7.0-11.5, HR = 8.7, 95% CI = 6.9-10.9, respectively] and fatal overdose (HR = 1.6, 95% CI = 1.3-2.0, HR = 4.3, 95% CI = 2.8-6.5, HR = 4.1, 95% CI = 2.8-6.0, respectively) compared with no history. CONCLUSIONS In a large sample of residents of British Columbia (Canada), approximately one in five people had sought care for a substance use disorder or mental illness in the past 5 years. The rate of overdose was elevated in people with a mental illness alone, higher again in people with a substance use disorder alone and highest in people with a dual diagnosis. The adjusted hazard rates were similar for people with substance use disorder only and people with a dual diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Keen
- Justice Health Unit, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Australia
| | - Stuart A Kinner
- Justice Health Unit, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Australia.,Justice Health Group, Centre for Adolescent Health, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Australia.,Mater Research Institute-UQ, University of Queensland, Australia.,Griffith Criminology Institute, Griffith University, Australia
| | - Jesse T Young
- Justice Health Unit, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Australia.,Centre for Adolescent Health, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,School of Population and Global Health, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.,National Drug Research Institute, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Kerry Jang
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Canada
| | - Wenqi Gan
- Data and Analytic Services, BC Centre for Disease Control, 655 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Hasina Samji
- Clinical Prevention Services, BC Centre for Disease Control, 655 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Bin Zhao
- Data and Analytic Services, BC Centre for Disease Control, 655 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Michael Krausz
- Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Canada
| | - Amanda Slaunwhite
- Clinical Prevention Services, BC Centre for Disease Control, 655 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Canada
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15
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Armoon B, Higgs P, Mohammadi R. Mental health status, health service utilization, drug use behaviors associated with non-fatal overdose among people who use illicit drugs: A meta-analysis. JOURNAL OF SUBSTANCE USE 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/14659891.2021.2019331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Bahram Armoon
- Douglas Hospital Research Centre, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Peter Higgs
- Department of Public Health, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Rasool Mohammadi
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Nutrition, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
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16
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McLeod KE, Karim ME, Buxton JA, Martin RE, Scow M, Felicella G, Slaunwhite AK. Use of community healthcare and overdose in the 30 days following release from provincial correctional facilities in British Columbia. Drug Alcohol Depend 2021; 229:109113. [PMID: 34823082 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2021.109113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Interruptions in healthcare services contribute to an elevated risk of overdose in the weeks following release from incarceration. This study examined the association of use of community healthcare with nonfatal and fatal overdose in the 30 days following release. METHODS We conducted a retrospective cohort study using linked administrative data from a random sample of 20% of the population of British Columbia. We examined releases from provincial correctional facilities between January 1, 2015-December 1, 2018. We fit multivariate Andersen-Gill models to examine nonfatal overdoses after release from incarceration and applied Standard Cox regression for analyses of fatal overdoses. RESULTS There were a combined 16,809 releases of 6721 people in this study. At least one overdose occurred in 2.8% of releases. A community healthcare visit preceded the first nonfatal overdose in 86.4% of releases with a nonfatal overdose event. Only 48.4% of people who had a fatal overdose used community healthcare. In adjusted analysis, people who had used community healthcare had a higher hazard of healthcare-attended nonfatal overdose (aHR 2.83 95% CI 2.13, 3.78) and lower hazard of fatal overdose (aHR 0.58, 95%CI 0.28, 1.19). CONCLUSIONS Community healthcare visits after release from custody may be an important opportunity to provide overdose prevention and harm reduction supports. Policies and resourcing are needed to facilitate better connection to primary healthcare during the transition to community. Providers in community should be equipped to offer care to people who have recently experienced incarceration in a way that is accessible, acceptable and trauma-informed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine E McLeod
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
| | - Mohammad Ehsanul Karim
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Centre for Health Evaluation and Outcome Sciences (CHÉOS), St. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Jane A Buxton
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Ruth Elwood Martin
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Marnie Scow
- British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Guy Felicella
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Amanda K Slaunwhite
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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17
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Friedman J, Hansen H, Bluthenthal RN, Harawa N, Jordan A, Beletsky L. Growing racial/ethnic disparities in overdose mortality before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in California. Prev Med 2021; 153:106845. [PMID: 34653501 PMCID: PMC8521065 DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2021.106845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 10/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
As overdose mortality is spiking during the COVID-19 pandemic, few race/ethnicity-stratified trends are available. This is of particular concern as overdose mortality was increasing most rapidly in Black and Latinx communities prior to the pandemic. We used quarterly, age-standardized overdose mortality rates from California to assess trends by race/ethnicity and drug involved over time. Rates from 2020 Q2-Q4 were compared to expected trends based on ARIMA forecasting models fit using data from 2006 to 2020 Q1. In 2020 Q2-Q4 overdose death rates rose by 49.8% from 2019, exceeding an expected increase of 11.5% (95%CI: 0.5%-22.5%). Rates significantly exceeded forecasted trends for all racial/ethnic groups. Black/African American individuals saw an increase of 52.4% from 2019, compared to 42.6% among their White counterparts. The absolute Black-White overdose mortality gap rose from 0.7 higher per 100,000 for Black individuals in 2018 to 4.8 in 2019, and further increased to 9.9 during the pandemic. Black overdose mortality in California was therefore 34.3% higher than that of White individuals in 2020 Q2-Q4. This reflects growing methamphetamine-, cocaine-, and fentanyl-involved deaths among Black communities. Growing racial disparities in overdose must be understood in the context of the unequal social and economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, during which time Black communities have been subjected to the dual burden of disproportionate COVID-19 deaths and rising overdose mortality. Increased investments are required to ameliorate racial/ethnic disparities in substance use treatment, harm reduction, and the structural drivers of overdose, as part of the COVID-19 response and post-pandemic recovery efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Friedman
- Medical Informatics Home Area, University of California, Los Angeles, United States of America; Center for Social Medicine and Humanities, University of California, Los Angeles, United States of America.
| | - Helena Hansen
- Center for Social Medicine and Humanities, University of California, Los Angeles, United States of America
| | - Ricky N Bluthenthal
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, United States of America
| | - Nina Harawa
- David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, United States of America
| | - Ayana Jordan
- Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Yale University, United States of America
| | - Leo Beletsky
- School of Law, Department of Health Sciences, and Health in Justice Action Lab, Northeastern University, United States of America
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18
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Treatment of overdose in the synthetic opioid era. Pharmacol Ther 2021; 233:108019. [PMID: 34637841 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2021.108019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Revised: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Overdose deaths are often viewed as the leading edge of the opioid epidemic which has gripped the United States over the past two decades (Skolnick, 2018a). This emphasis is perhaps unsurprising because opioid overdose is both the number-one cause of death for individuals between 25 and 64 years old (Dezfulian et al., 2021) and a significant contributor to the decline in average lifespan (Dowell et al., 2017). Exacerbated by the COVID 19 pandemic, it was estimated there were 93,400 drug overdose deaths in the United States during the 12 months ending December 2020, with more than 69,000 (that is, >74%) of these fatalities attributed to opioid overdose (Ahmad et al., 2021). However, the focus on mortality statistics (Ahmad et al., 2021; Shover et al., 2020) tends to obscure the broader medical impact of nonfatal opioid overdose. Analyses of multiple databases indicate that for each opioid-induced fatality, there are between 6.4 and 8.4 non-fatal overdoses, exacting a significant burden on both the individual and society. Over the past 7-8 years, there has been an alarming increase in the misuse of synthetic opioids ("synthetics"), primarily fentanyl and related piperidine-based analogs. Within the past 2-3 years, a structurally unrelated class of high potency synthetics, benzimidazoles exemplified by etonitazene and isotonitazene ("iso"), have also appeared in illicit drug markets (Thompson, 2020; Ujvary et al. 2021). In 2020, it was estimated that over 80% of fatal opioid overdoses in the United States now involve synthetics (Ahmad et al., 2021). The unique physicochemical and pharmacological properties of synthetics described in this review are responsible for both the morbidity and mortality associated with their misuse as well as their widespread availability. This dramatic increase in the misuse of synthetics is often referred to as the "3rd wave" (Pardo et al., 2019; Volkow and Blanco, 2020) of the opioid epidemic. Among the consequences resulting from misuse of these potent opioids is the need for higher doses of the competitive antagonist, naloxone, to reverse an overdose. The development of more effective reversal agents such as those described in this review is an essential component of a tripartite strategy (Volkow and Collins, 2017) to reduce the biopsychosocial impact of opioid misuse in the "synthetic era".
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19
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Armoon B, Bayani A, Griffiths MD, Bayat AH, Mohammadi R, Fattah Moghaddam L, Ahounbar E. Prevalence and high-risk behaviors associated with non-fatal overdose among people who use illicit opioids: A systematic review and meta-analysis. JOURNAL OF SUBSTANCE USE 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/14659891.2021.1978112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Bahram Armoon
- Research Center, Douglas Mental Health University Institute, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, McGill University, Montreal, Qc, Canada
| | - Azadeh Bayani
- Student Research Committee, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mark D. Griffiths
- International Gaming Research Unit, Psychology Department, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, UK
| | - Amir-Hossein Bayat
- Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Saveh University of Medical Sciences, Saveh, Iran
| | - Rasool Mohammadi
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Nutrition, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
| | - Ladan Fattah Moghaddam
- Department of Nursing, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Elahe Ahounbar
- Substance Abuse and Dependence Research Center, The University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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20
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Ribeiro M, Frajzinger R, Ogata Perrenoud L, Fischer B. Examining a migration-based phenomenon of heroin use in an urban drug scene in Sao Paulo, Brazil. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MIGRATION, HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE 2021. [DOI: 10.1108/ijmhsc-06-2020-0065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Purpose
Brazil’s street-based drug use is mostly characterized by non-injection psychostimulant (e.g. crack-cocaine) drug use in Brazil, with limited interventions and service availability. Recently, an influx of multi-ethnic migrants within an urban drug scene in Sao Paulo was associated with heroin use, a drug normatively absent from Brazil. The purpose of this paper is to characterize and compare heroin use-related characteristics and outcomes for an attending sub-sample of clients from a large community-based treatment centre (“CRATOD”) serving Sao Paulo’s local urban drug scene.
Design/methodology/approach
All non-Brazilian patients (n = 109) receiving services at CRATOD for 2013–2016 were identified from patient files, divided into heroin users (n = 40) and non-heroin users (n = 69). Based on chart reviews, select socio-demographic, drug use and health status (including blood-borne-virus and other infections per rapid test methods) were examined and bi-variately compared. Multi-variate analyses examined factors independently associated with heroin use.
Findings
Most participants were male and middle-aged, poly-drug users and socio-economically marginalized. While heroin users primarily originated from Africa, they reported significantly more criminal histories, drug (e.g. injection) and sex-risk behaviors and elevated rates of BBV (e.g. Hepatitis C Virus and HIV). A minority of heroin users attending the clinic was provided methadone treatment, mostly for detoxification.
Originality/value
This study documented information on a distinct sample of mostly migration-based heroin users in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Based on the local experience, global migration dynamics can bring changes to established drug use cultures and services, including new challenges for drug use-related related behaviors and therapeutic interventions that require effective understanding and addressing.
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Conway A, Valerio H, Peacock A, Degenhardt L, Hayllar J, Harrod ME, Henderson C, Read P, Gilliver R, Christmass M, Dunlop A, Montebello M, Whitton G, Reid D, Lam T, Alavi M, Silk D, Marshall AD, Treloar C, Dore GJ, Grebely J. Non-fatal opioid overdose, naloxone access, and naloxone training among people who recently used opioids or received opioid agonist treatment in Australia: The ETHOS Engage study. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2021; 96:103421. [PMID: 34452808 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2021.103421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Revised: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 08/08/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Overdose is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among people who use opioids. Naloxone can reverse opioid overdoses and can be distributed and administered with minimal training. People with experience of overdose are a key population to target for overdose prevention strategies. This study aims to understand if factors associated with recent non-fatal opioid overdose are the same as factors associated with naloxone access and naloxone training in people who recently used opioids or received opioid agonist treatment (OAT). METHODS ETHOS Engage is an observational study of people who inject drugs in Australia. Logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios for non-fatal opioid overdose, naloxone access and naloxone training. RESULTS Between May 2018-September 2019, 1280 participants who recently used opioids or received OAT were enrolled (62% aged >40 years; 35% female, 80% receiving OAT, 62% injected drugs in the preceding month). Recent opioid overdose (preceding 12 months) was reported by 7% of participants, lifetime naloxone access by 17%, and lifetime naloxone training by 14%. Compared to people receiving OAT with no additional opioid use, recent opioid, benzodiazepine (preceding six months), and hazardous alcohol use was associated with recent opioid overdose (aOR 3.91; 95%CI: 1.68-9.10) and lifetime naloxone access (aOR 2.12; 95%CI 1.29-3.48). Among 91 people who reported recent overdose, 65% had never received take-home naloxone or naloxone training. CONCLUSIONS Among people recently using opioids or receiving OAT, benzodiazepine and hazardous alcohol use is associated with non-fatal opioid overdose. Not all factors associated with non-fatal overdose correspond to factors associated with naloxone access. Naloxone access and training is low across all groups. Additional interventions are needed to scale up naloxone provision.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Conway
- The Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Centre for Social Research in Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
| | - H Valerio
- The Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - A Peacock
- National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; School of Psychology, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - L Degenhardt
- National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - J Hayllar
- Alcohol and Drug Service, Metro North Mental Health, Metro North Hospital and Health Service, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - M E Harrod
- NSW Users and AIDS Association, NSW, Australia
| | - C Henderson
- NSW Users and AIDS Association, NSW, Australia
| | - P Read
- The Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Kirketon Road Centre, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - R Gilliver
- Kirketon Road Centre, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - M Christmass
- Next Step Drug and Alcohol Services, Mental Health Commission, WA, Australia; National Drug Research Institute, Curtin University, WA, Australia
| | - A Dunlop
- Centre for Translational Neuroscience and Mental Health, Hunter Medical Research Institute & University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia; Drug and Alcohol Clinical Services, Hunter New England Local Health District, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
| | - M Montebello
- National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Drug and Alcohol Services, Northern Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, NSW, Australia; University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - G Whitton
- Drug Health Service, South West Sydney LHD, NSW, Australia
| | - D Reid
- Drug and Alcohol Service, Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| | - T Lam
- Drug Health, Western Sydney Local Health District, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - M Alavi
- The Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - D Silk
- The Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - A D Marshall
- The Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Centre for Social Research in Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - C Treloar
- Centre for Social Research in Health, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - G J Dore
- The Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - J Grebely
- The Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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22
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Prevalence and correlates of multiple non-fatal opioid overdoses among people who inject drugs who utilise needle syringe programs in Australia. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2021; 96:103245. [PMID: 33840562 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2021.103245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2020] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Non-fatal overdose (NFOD) is a major cause of morbidity among people who inject drugs (PWID) and multiple NFOD is associated with increased risk of fatal overdose. Despite this, few studies have examined the prevalence and correlates of drug-specific multiple NFOD. The current study aimed to determine the prevalence and correlates of recent multiple non-fatal opioid overdose (NFOOD) among PWID who access needle syringe programs (NSPs) in Australia. METHODS The Australian Needle and Syringe Program Survey is conducted annually and was conducted at 46 sites across Australia in 2019. Participation involves completion of a self-administered questionnaire and a capillary dried blood spot for HIV and hepatitis C virus testing. In 2019, respondents who reported a minimum of one NFOOD in the previous 12 months (recent NFOOD) were asked to complete supplementary questions regarding their last NFOOD. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression were used to determine factors independently associated with multiple recent NFOOD. RESULTS A total of 222 respondents reported recent NFOOD. Respondents were predominantly male (59%), one third (39%) were aged less than 39 years and 73% reported last injecting heroin at their last NFOOD. One in two respondents (48%, n = 107) reported multiple opioid overdoses (median 3, interquartile range 2-5). The odds of reporting multiple NFOOD were higher among respondents who reported injecting in a public location at their last NFOOD (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 2.10, 95% CI 1.14-3.90, p = 0.018) and benzodiazepine use in the 12 h prior to NFOOD (AOR 2.74, 95% CI 1.50-4.99, p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Multiple NFOOD was prevalent among PWID who utilised NSPs who reported recent NFOOD. Public injecting and benzodiazepine use were associated with increased risk of multiple NFOOD, and there is a need for interventions specifically targeting PWID who report these high risk injecting practices.
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Keen C, Kinner SA, Young JT, Snow K, Zhao B, Gan W, Slaunwhite AK. Periods of altered risk for non-fatal drug overdose: a self-controlled case series. LANCET PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 6:e249-e259. [PMID: 33773635 DOI: 10.1016/s2468-2667(21)00007-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Revised: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Being recently released from prison or discharged from hospital, or being dispensed opioids, benzodiazepines, or antipsychotics have been associated with an increased risk of fatal drug overdose. This study aimed to examine the association between these periods and non-fatal drug overdose using a within-person design. METHODS In this self-controlled case series, we used data from the provincial health insurance client roster to identify a 20% random sample of residents (aged ≥10 years) in British Columbia, Canada between Jan 1, 2015, and Dec 31, 2017 (n=921 346). Individuals aged younger than 10 years as of Jan 1, 2015, or who did not have their sex recorded in the client roster were excluded. We used linked provincial health and correctional records to identify a cohort of individuals who had a non-fatal overdose resulting in medical care during this time period, and key exposures, including periods of incarceration, admission to hospital, emergency department care, and supply of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD), opioids for pain (unrelated to MOUD), benzodiazepines, and antipsychotics. Using a self-controlled case series, we examined the association between the time periods during and after each of these exposures and the incidence of non-fatal overdose with case-only, conditional Poisson regression analysis. Sensitivity analyses included recurrent overdoses and pre-exposure risk periods. FINDINGS We identified 4149 individuals who had a non-fatal overdose in 2015-17. Compared with unexposed periods (ie, all follow-up time that was not part of a designated risk period for each exposure), the incidence of non-fatal overdose was higher on the day of admission to prison (adjusted incidence rate ratio [aIRR] 2·76 [95% CI 1·51-5·04]), at 1-2 weeks (2·92 [2·37-3·61]), and 3-4 weeks (1·34 [1·01-1·78]) after release from prison, 1-2 weeks after discharge from hospital (1·35 [1·11-1·63]), when being dispensed opioids for pain (after ≥4 weeks) or benzodiazepines (entire use period), and from 3 weeks after discontinuing antipsychotics. The incidence of non-fatal overdose was reduced during use of MOUD (aIRRs ranging from 0·33 [0·26-0·42] to 0·41 [0·25-0·67]) and when in prison (0·12 [0·08-0·19]). INTERPRETATION Expanding access to and increasing support for stable and long-term medication for the management of opioid use disorder, improving continuity of care when transitioning between service systems, and ensuring safe prescribing and medication monitoring processes for medications that reduce respiratory function (eg, benzodiazepines) could decrease the incidence of non-fatal overdose. FUNDING Murdoch Children's Research Institute and National Health and Medical Research Council.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Keen
- Justice Health Unit, Centre for Health Equity, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
| | - Stuart A Kinner
- Justice Health Unit, Centre for Health Equity, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Centre for Adolescent Health, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Mater Research Institute-UQ, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; Griffith Criminology Institute, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Jesse T Young
- Justice Health Unit, Centre for Health Equity, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Centre for Adolescent Health, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia; School of Population and Global Health, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia; National Drug Research Institute, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Kathryn Snow
- Justice Health Unit, Centre for Health Equity, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Centre for International Child Health, Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia; Centre for Adolescent Health, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Bin Zhao
- Data and Analytic Services, BC Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Wenqi Gan
- Data and Analytic Services, BC Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Amanda K Slaunwhite
- Clinical Prevention Services, BC Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada; School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Correlation study between anatomopathological data and levels of blood morphine concentrations in heroin-related deaths. Leg Med (Tokyo) 2021; 51:101877. [PMID: 33848788 DOI: 10.1016/j.legalmed.2021.101877] [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: 09/07/2020] [Revised: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Heroin-related mortality is a complex phenomenon involving several factors that make an individual more susceptible to opioid toxicity. Among these, pre-existing pathological conditions play an important role. The current paper reviewed 51 autopsied cases performed over the last 30 years, each subject ("frequent heroin user") having taken heroin intravenously alone before death. For each case, total blood morphine concentration determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was obtained from the archives. For histopathological evaluation we examined microscopic sections of the heart, lung, brain, liver and kidney, and for each organ a score table with a numerical value from 1 to 5, as an indicator of increasing severity, was drawn up. Finally, we created a scoring system based on the Injury Severity Score (ISS), generated by the sum of the squares of the three highest organ scores. We investigated the relationship between total blood morphine value (mg/l) and pathological score by inserting the two variables in a linear regression model: Score = a + b·Morphinemia (p-value <0.001). The results demonstrated a statistically significant correlation between the two variables: individuals with low total blood morphine values tended to have a higher pathological score. Our study provides useful assessment tools for forensic practice, confirming the need to combine two important disciplines in drug death investigation: forensic pathology and toxicology.
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25
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Dayton L, Mazhnaya A, Schneider KE, Kong X, Winiker A, Davey-Rothwell M, Tobin KE, Latkin CA. Trends in overdose experiences and prevention behaviors among people who use opioids in Baltimore, MD, 2017-2019. Drug Alcohol Depend 2021; 221:108650. [PMID: 33684772 PMCID: PMC8590734 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2021.108650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2020] [Revised: 01/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Little is known about trends in overdose behaviors. This study explored non-fatal overdose and engagement in overdose prevention behaviors and compared these trends to city-wide overdose fatality rates from 2017 to 2019 in Baltimore, MD. METHODS The analysis included people who used opioids (PWUO; N = 502) recruited through a community-based study. Enrollment date was used to categorize participants into annual quarters. Logistic regression models examined change in overdose experiences and prevention behaviors with time. Baltimore's fatal overdoses were also mapped over the study period to assess overlaps in trends. RESULTS The majority of the sample were male(68 %), Black(61 %), reported past 6 months homelessness(56 %), and were on average 45 years old. Most had witnessed(61 %), and 28 % had personally experienced an overdose in the past 6 months. Witnessing overdose marginally increased(aβ = 0.182;p = 0.058) while experiencing overdose did not significantly change by enrollment quarter. Most participants had or had been prescribed naloxone(72 %), and one fifth(22 %) regularly carried naloxone, with both access to(aβ = 0,408;p = 0.002) and carrying naloxone(aβ = 0.302;p = 0.006) increasing over time. Overdose communication remained stable, with 63 % of participants reporting discussing overdose sometimes/often. Among participants who injected (n = 376), regularly injecting alone decreased(aβ=-0.207;p = 0.055), and reporting others often/always having naloxone with them when injecting increased over time(aβ = 0.573;p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Witnessed overdose marginally increased from 2017 to 2019, aligning with city trends of fatal overdose. Overdose prevention behaviors significantly increased over time. Despite reporting having naloxone or a naloxone prescription, most PWUO did not regularly carry naloxone, and many used alone. Social network diffusion interventions may be a strategy to promote normative overdose prevention behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Dayton
- Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
| | - Alyona Mazhnaya
- Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA; School of Public Health, National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, Voloska St, 10, Kyiv, 02000, Ukraine
| | - Kristin E Schneider
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Xiangrong Kong
- Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA; Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins School Medicine, 600 N. Wolfe St., Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA; Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA; Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Abigail Winiker
- Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Melissa Davey-Rothwell
- Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Karin E Tobin
- Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Carl A Latkin
- Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
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Davis CS, Carr DH, Glenn MJ, Samuels EA. Legal Authority for Emergency Medical Services to Increase Access to Buprenorphine Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder. Ann Emerg Med 2021; 78:102-108. [PMID: 33781607 DOI: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2021.01.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2020] [Revised: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Treatment with buprenorphine significantly reduces both all-cause and overdose mortality among individuals with opioid use disorder. Offering buprenorphine treatment to individuals who experience a nonfatal opioid overdose represents an opportunity to reduce opioid overdose fatalities. Although some emergency departments (EDs) initiate buprenorphine treatment, many individuals who experience an overdose either refuse transport to the ED or are transported to an ED that does not offer buprenorphine. Emergency medical services (EMS) professionals can help address this treatment gap. In this Concepts article, we describe the federal legal landscape that governs the ability of EMS professionals to administer buprenorphine treatment, and discuss state and local regulatory considerations relevant to this promising and emerging practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corey S Davis
- Harm Reduction Legal Project, Network for Public Health Law, Los Angeles, CA.
| | | | - Melody J Glenn
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Arizona, and Banner University Medical Center Tucson, Tucson, AZ
| | - Elizabeth A Samuels
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI
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27
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Allen ST, Wedlock PT, White RH, Schneider KE, O'Rourke A, Ahmad NJ, Weir BW, Kilkenny ME, Sherman SG. Engagement in drug treatment following nonfatal overdose among people who inject drugs in Appalachia. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2021; 93:103176. [PMID: 33621731 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2021.103176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Immediately after experiencing a non-fatal overdose, many people who inject drugs (PWID) engage in harm-minimizing behavior change, including engagement in drug treatment. To inform the implementation of tailored interventions designed to facilitate drug treatment engagement in rural communities, we sought to identify correlates of starting any form of drug treatment after their most recent overdose among PWID who reside in a rural county in West Virginia. METHODS Data are from a PWID population estimation study in Cabell County, West Virginia. We used multivariable logistic regression to identify independent sociodemographic and substance use-related correlates of any form of drug treatment engagement after an overdose among 179 PWID who had overdosed in the past 6 months. RESULTS One-third of our sample (33.0%) started any form of drug treatment in the 30 days following their most recent overdose. Factors associated with engaging in drug treatment included: recent buprenorphine or Suboxone injection (aOR: 2.39, 95% CI: 1.15, 4.96), someone calling 911 after their most recent overdose (aOR: 3.29, 95% CI: 1.63, 6.65), and older age (aOR per year of age: 0.95, 95% CI: 0.91, 0.99). CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that contact with emergency personnel after an overdose may represent an important opportunity to link PWID to drug treatment. The implementation of response teams trained in linking PWID to the services they require and helping persons navigate treatment systems maybe be a valuable intervention to reduce the harms of the opioid overdose crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean T Allen
- Department of Health, Behavior & Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
| | - Patrick T Wedlock
- Department of Health, Behavior & Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Public Health Informatics, Computational, and Operations Research (PHICOR), City University of New York (CUNY) School of Public Health, New York City, NY 10027, USA
| | - Rebecca Hamilton White
- Department of Health, Behavior & Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Kristin E Schneider
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Allison O'Rourke
- DC Center for AIDS Research, Department of Psychological & Brain Sciences at the George Washington University, 2125G St. NW, Washington, DC 20052, USA
| | - N Jia Ahmad
- Department of Health, Behavior & Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Brian W Weir
- Department of Health, Behavior & Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Michael E Kilkenny
- Cabell-Huntington Health Department, 703 7(th) Avenue, Huntington, WV 25701, USA
| | - Susan G Sherman
- Department of Health, Behavior & Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
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28
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Ahmad NJ, Allen ST, White RH, Schneider KE, O'Rourke A, Perdue M, Babcock C, Kilkenny ME, Sherman SG. Correlates of recent nonfatal overdose among people who inject drugs in West Virginia. Harm Reduct J 2021; 18:22. [PMID: 33602226 PMCID: PMC7890641 DOI: 10.1186/s12954-021-00470-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Aim Experiencing a nonfatal overdose (NFOD) is a significant risk factor for a subsequent nonfatal or fatal overdose. Overdose mortality rates in rural Appalachian states are some of the highest in the USA, but little is known about correlates of overdose among rural populations of people who inject drugs (PWID). Our study aimed to identify correlates of experiencing a recent (past 6 months) NFOD among rural PWID in Cabell County, West Virginia. Methods Using data from a June–July 2018 cross-sectional survey that was designed to estimate the size and characteristics of the PWID population in Cabell County, West Virginia, we used log binomial regression to identify correlates (e.g., structural vulnerabilities and substance use) of NFOD in the past 6 months. Results The majority of our sample of 420 PWID were male (61.2%), White, non-Hispanic (83.6%), and reported recent heroin injection (81.0%). More than two-fifths (42.6%) experienced a recent NFOD. Independent correlates of NFOD included witnessing an overdose in the past 6 months (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR] = 2.28; 95% CI 1.48–3.50), attempting to quit using drugs in the past 6 months (aPR = 1.54; 95% CI 1.11–2.14), and the number of drugs injected (aPR = 1.16; 95% CI 1.10–1.23) Conclusions A large proportion of rural PWID in Appalachia reported having recently overdosed. The associations between witnessing an overdose, attempting to quit using drugs, and number of drugs injected with recent nonfatal overdose underscore the need for expanded access to overdose prevention resources that are tailored to the needs of this population. Expanding access to evidence-based overdose prevention strategies—such as take-home naloxone programs, treatment with methadone or buprenorphine, and harm reduction services—may decrease overdose morbidity and mortality among rural PWID in Appalachia.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Jia Ahmad
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Sean T Allen
- Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
| | - Rebecca Hamilton White
- Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Kristin E Schneider
- Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Allison O'Rourke
- DC Center for AIDS Research, Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, George Washington University, 2125 G St. NW, Washington, DC, 20052, USA
| | - Michelle Perdue
- Cabell Huntington Health Department, 703 7th Ave., Huntington, WV, 25701, USA
| | - Charles Babcock
- Marshall University School of Pharmacy, 1538 Charleston Ave., Huntington, WV, 25701, USA
| | - Michael E Kilkenny
- Cabell Huntington Health Department, 703 7th Ave., Huntington, WV, 25701, USA
| | - Susan G Sherman
- Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N. Broadway, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
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McLeod KE, Slaunwhite AK, Zhao B, Moe J, Purssell R, Gan W, Xavier C, Kuo M, Mill C, Buxton JA, Scheuermeyer FX. Comparing mortality and healthcare utilization in the year following a paramedic-attended non-fatal overdose among people who were and were not transported to hospital: A prospective cohort study using linked administrative health data. Drug Alcohol Depend 2021; 218:108381. [PMID: 33158663 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2020.108381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2020] [Revised: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND As the overdose emergency continues in British Columbia (BC), paramedic-attended overdoses are increasing, as is the proportion of people not transported to hospital following an overdose. This study investigated risk of death and subsequent healthcare utilization for people who were and were not transported to hospital after a paramedic-attended non-fatal overdose. METHODS Using a linked administrative health data set which includes all overdoses that come into contact with health services in BC, we conducted a prospective cohort study of people who experienced a paramedic-attended non-fatal overdose between 2015 and 2016. People were followed for 365 days after the index event. The primary outcomes assessed were all-cause mortality and overdose-related death. Additionally, we examined healthcare utilization after the index event. RESULTS In this study, 8659 (84%) people were transported and 1644 (16%) were not transported to hospital at the index overdose event. There were 279 overdose deaths (2.7% of people, 59.4% of deaths) during follow-up. There was no significant difference in risk of overdose-related death, though people not transported had higher odds of a subsequent non-fatal overdose event captured in emergency department and outpatient records within 90 days. People transported to hospital had higher odds of using hospital and outpatient services for any reason within 365 days. CONCLUSIONS Transport to hospital after a non-fatal overdose is an opportunity to provide care for underlying and chronic conditions. There is a need to better understand factors that contribute to non-transport, particularly among people aged 20-59 and people without chronic conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine E McLeod
- Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 2194 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada.
| | - Amanda K Slaunwhite
- Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 2194 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada; BC Centre for Disease Control, 655 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5Z4R4, Canada
| | - Bin Zhao
- Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 2194 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Jessica Moe
- Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 2194 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada; BC Centre for Disease Control, 655 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5Z4R4, Canada; Vancouver General Hospital, 899 W 12th Ave, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 1M9, Canada
| | - Roy Purssell
- Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 2194 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada; BC Centre for Disease Control, 655 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5Z4R4, Canada
| | - Wenqi Gan
- BC Centre for Disease Control, 655 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5Z4R4, Canada
| | - Chloé Xavier
- BC Centre for Disease Control, 655 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5Z4R4, Canada
| | - Margot Kuo
- BC Centre for Disease Control, 655 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5Z4R4, Canada
| | - Chris Mill
- Public Health Agency of Canada, 130 Colonnade Road A.L. 6501H, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0K9, Canada
| | - Jane A Buxton
- Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 2194 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada; BC Centre for Disease Control, 655 West 12th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5Z4R4, Canada
| | - Frank X Scheuermeyer
- Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, 2194 Health Sciences Mall, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada; Providence Health Care, 1081 Burrard St, Vancouver, BC, V6Z 1Y6, Canada
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Scheim AI, Bouck Z, Tookey P, Hopkins S, Sniderman R, McLean E, Garber G, Baral S, Rourke SB, Werb D. Supervised consumption service use and recent non-fatal overdose among people who inject drugs in Toronto, Canada. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2020; 87:102993. [PMID: 33160158 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2020.102993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Revised: 08/21/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aiming to reducing overdose mortality, over 40 supervised drug consumption services (SCS) presently operate in Canada. Arguments against SCS include the potential for increased non-fatal overdoses mediated by risk compensation. This study estimates associations between SCS use and recent non-fatal overdose among people who inject drugs (PWID). METHODS We analyzed cross-sectional baseline data collected between November 2018 and March 2020 from a cohort of adult PWID in Toronto, Canada. Recent non-fatal overdose was self-reported over the previous six months. The primary exposure was frequency of SCS use, self-reported as the proportion of injections performed at an SCS (all or most [75-100%], some [26-74%], few [≤25%], or none) in the previous six months. The prevalence of recent overdose was compared between all unique pairs of groups based on their frequency of SCS use and expressed as covariate-adjusted prevalence ratios (PR) estimated using modified Poisson regression. RESULTS Among 701 PWID (median [IQR] age, 40 [33 to 49]; 64.3% cisgender men; 56.8% injecting daily), most reported SCS use (all/most, 26.2%; some, 30.9%; few, 29.4%) versus no use (13.5%), with 38.6% reporting a recent overdose. From adjusted regression analyses, more frequent SCS use was not statistically significantly associated with overdose when compared to either no SCS use or less frequent use. Associations between SCS use frequency and overdose were notably smaller among SCS clients compared to associations between SCS clients and non-users (e.g., all/most versus none: PR, 1.43 [95% CI, 0.93 to 2.21]; all/most versus some: PR, 0.94 [95% CI, 0.75 to 1.17]; all/most versus few: PR, 1.15 [95% CI, 0.89 to 1.48]). CONCLUSION Findings did not indicate statistically significant associations between SCS use frequency and recent non-fatal overdose, particularly among SCS clients who may be more comparable. Nevertheless, overdose was common, underscoring the need to prevent non-fatal overdose and associated morbidity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayden I Scheim
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Centre on Drug Policy Evaluation, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| | - Zachary Bouck
- Centre on Drug Policy Evaluation, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada; Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Paula Tookey
- South Riverdale Community Health Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Ruby Sniderman
- Centre on Drug Policy Evaluation, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Elizabeth McLean
- Centre on Drug Policy Evaluation, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Stefan Baral
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Sean B Rourke
- MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Dan Werb
- Centre on Drug Policy Evaluation, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada; Institute of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, United States
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Noroozi M, Higgs P, Bayani A, Armoon B, Astaneh AN, Moghaddam LF, Askari M. Non -fatal overdose among people who inject drugs in Tehran, Iran. SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT PREVENTION AND POLICY 2020; 15:80. [PMID: 33054806 PMCID: PMC7559998 DOI: 10.1186/s13011-020-00323-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND With increasing frequencies of non-fatal overdose in people who inject drugs (PWID), it is essential to improve our knowledge about associated risk factors for overdose to inform overdose prevention and assistance programs. The aim of present study was to determine the prevalence of non-fatal overdose and the associated risk factors among PWID in Tehran, Iran. METHODS Snowball sampling was used to collect data from 465 participants in Tehran using a cross-sectional survey. Consenting participants who reported drug injecting in the past month and were able to speak and comprehend Farsi enough to respond to survey questions were interviewed. The endpoint of interest was non-fatal overdose in the previous 6 months, or answering "Yes" to the question: "In the last six months, have you ever overdosed by accident? (at least once)". We used STATA v. 14 for this analysis. Statistical significance was defined as p < 0.05 for all analyses. RESULTS Of 465 PWIDs who participated in this study, all were male, and about half had less than a high school education. The prevalence of self-reported non-fatal overdose in the past 6 months was 38% (CI95%: 34, 43%). Our findings indicate that characteristics and behaviors that were associated with an increased risk of experiencing an overdose in the past 6 months were drug use initiation under 22 years (AOR =2.2, P < 0.05), using methamphetamine (AOR =2.8, P < 0.05), and using multiple drugs at the same time (AOR =2.1, P < 0.05). Also, more recent initiates to injecting (< 2 years) had an increased risk of experiencing an overdose in the past 6 months. The odds of experiencing a non-fatal overdose among PWIDs who regularly attended NSP were 0.6 times less than for those who did not attend regularly (OR = 0.6,95% CI: 0.2-0.9). CONCLUSION Methamphetamine and alcohol use were the most significant association for non-fatal overdose among PWIDs. Our results indicate that intervention and prevention initiatives seeking to reduce overdoses among PWIDs should not only be focused on the primary drug used but also the use of alcohol and poly-drug use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehdi Noroozi
- Social Determinants of Health Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Peter Higgs
- Department of Public Health, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Azadeh Bayani
- Student Research Committee, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Bahram Armoon
- Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Saveh University of Medical Sciences, Saveh, Iran.
| | - Ali Nazeri Astaneh
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Science, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ladan Fattah Moghaddam
- Department of Nursing, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
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Liebrenz M, Gamma A, Buadze A, Schleifer R, Baggio S, Schwartz B, Schneeberger A, Uchtenhagen A. Fifteen years of heroin-assisted treatment in a Swiss prison-a retrospective cohort study. Harm Reduct J 2020; 17:67. [PMID: 33046103 PMCID: PMC7552491 DOI: 10.1186/s12954-020-00412-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2020] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In the context of the current US opioid crisis and the compelling fact that a quarter to a third of all those addicted to heroin pass through its prisons and jails each year, the care of incarcerated opioid-using individuals (OUI) needs to be improved. Aims Little has been published on the effectiveness or outcomes of heroin-assisted treatment (HAT), a treatment option for severely dependent OUI delivered in a prison setting. The aim of this study was therefore to evaluate such treatment since its implementation. The primary objective was to investigate whether heroin-assisted treatment was associated with severe detrimental health outcomes. The secondary objective was to compare the heroin-assisted treatment group with the general prison population in terms of occupational functioning. Design Retrospective cohort study Setting An open prison with 120 places Subjects Data on 1885 male prisoners with a total of 2239 imprisonment periods between 2000 and 2015 was available. Ninety-seven inmates in heroin-assisted treatment were compared with 1788 inmates from the general prison population (reference group). Measurements Mortality, medical complications (including overdoses), and work performance (days worked, sick days, and monthly wages earned). Findings Inmates receiving HAT were on average 1 year younger (33.8 vs. 34.9 years), had longer prison stays (7.3 vs. 3.0 months), were more often of Swiss nationality (68.0% vs. 28.9%), and had committed more drug- and property-related offenses (49.5% vs. 23.2% and 63.9% vs. 38.3%, respectively) compared to the reference group. No serious heroin-related medical complication occurred during the 15-year window of observation among inmates with heroin-assisted treatment. Their work performance was comparable to that of the reference group. Conclusions This study shows that heroin-assisted treatment can be a valuable treatment option for severely dependent OUI during imprisonment, can be delivered safely by prison health staff over extended periods of time, and allows OUI in treatment to achieve work performance rates comparable to that of the general prison population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Liebrenz
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Bern, Falkenplatz 18, 3012, Bern, Switzerland.
| | - Alex Gamma
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Bern, Falkenplatz 18, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Anna Buadze
- Department of Psychiatry, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics, Psychiatric Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Roman Schleifer
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Bern, Falkenplatz 18, 3012, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Stéphanie Baggio
- Department of Forensic Psychiatry, Institute of Forensic Medicine, University of Bern, Falkenplatz 18, 3012, Bern, Switzerland.,Division of Prison Health, Geneva University Hospitals and University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Bruce Schwartz
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, USA
| | - Andres Schneeberger
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, USA.,Psychiatrische Dienste Graubünden (PDGR), Chur, Switzerland
| | - Ambros Uchtenhagen
- Swiss Research Institute for Public Health and Addiction ISGF, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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PARK JUNYEONG, ROUHANI SABA, BELETSKY LEO, VINCENT LOUISE, SALONER BRENDAN, SHERMAN SUSANG. Situating the Continuum of Overdose Risk in the Social Determinants of Health: A New Conceptual Framework. Milbank Q 2020; 98:700-746. [PMID: 32808709 PMCID: PMC7482387 DOI: 10.1111/1468-0009.12470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Policy Points This article reconceptualizes our understanding of the opioid epidemic and proposes six strategies that address the epidemic's social roots. In order to successfully reduce drug-related mortality over the long term, policymakers and public health leaders should develop partnerships with people who use drugs, incorporate harm reduction interventions, and reverse decades of drug criminalization policies. CONTEXT Drug overdose is the leading cause of injury-related death in the United States. Synthetic opioids, predominantly illicit fentanyl and its analogs, surpassed prescription opioids and heroin in associated mortality rates in 2016. Unfortunately, interventions fail to fully address the current wave of the opioid epidemic and often omit the voices of people with lived experiences regarding drug use. Every overdose death is a culmination of a long series of policy failures and lost opportunities for harm reduction. METHODS In this article, we conducted a scoping review of the opioid literature to propose a novel framework designed to foreground social determinants more directly into our understanding of this national emergency. The "continuum of overdose risk" framework is our synthesis of the global evidence base and is grounded in contemporary theories, models, and policies that have been successfully applied both domestically and internationally. FINDINGS De-escalating overdose risk in the long term will require scaling up innovative and comprehensive solutions that have been designed through partnerships with people who use drugs and are rooted in harm reduction. CONCLUSIONS Without recognizing the full drug-use continuum and the role of social determinants, the current responses to drug overdose will continue to aggravate the problem they are trying to solve.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - LEO BELETSKY
- School of Law and Bouvé College of Health SciencesNortheastern University
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Protocol for Take-home naloxone In Multicentre Emergency (TIME) settings: feasibility study. Pilot Feasibility Stud 2020; 6:96. [PMID: 32670598 PMCID: PMC7346647 DOI: 10.1186/s40814-020-00626-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Opioids, such as heroin, kill more people worldwide by overdose than any other type of drug, and death rates associated with opioid poisoning in the UK are at record levels (World Drug Report 2018 [Internet]. [cited 2019 Nov 19]. Available from: http://www.unodc.org/wdr2018/; Deaths related to drug poisoning in England and Wales - Office for National Statistics [Internet]. [cited 2019 Nov 19]. Available from: https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/deaths/bulletins/deathsrelatedtodrugpoisoninginenglandandwales/2018registrations). Naloxone is an opioid antagonist which can be distributed in ‘kits’ for administration by witnesses in an overdose emergency. This intervention is known as take-home naloxone (THN). We know that THN can save lives on an individual level, but there is currently limited evidence about the effectiveness of THN distribution on an aggregate level, in specialist drug service settings or in emergency service settings. Notably, we do not know whether THN kits reduce deaths from opioid overdose in at-risk populations, if there are unforeseen harms associated with THN distribution or if THN is cost-effective. In order to address this research gap, we aim to determine the feasibility of a fully powered cluster randomised controlled trial (RCT) of THN distribution in emergency settings. Methods We will carry out a feasibility study for a RCT of THN distributed in emergency settings at four sites, clustered by Emergency Department (ED) and catchment area within its associated ambulance service. THN is a peer-administered intervention. At two intervention sites, emergency ambulance paramedics and ED clinical staff will distribute THN to adult patients who are at risk of opioid overdose. At two control sites, practice will carry on as usual. We will develop a method of identifying a population to include in an evaluation, comprising people at risk of fatal opioid overdose, who may potentially receive naloxone included in a THN kit. We will gather anonymised outcomes up to 1 year following a 12-month ‘live’ trial period for patients at risk of death from opioid poisoning. We expect approximately 100 patients at risk of opioid overdose to be in contact with each service during the 1-year recruitment period. Our outcomes will include deaths, emergency admissions, intensive care admissions, and ED attendances. We will collect numbers of eligible patients attended by participating in emergency ambulance paramedics and attending ED, THN kits issued, and NHS resource usage. We will determine whether to progress to a fully powered trial based on pre-specified progression criteria: sign-up of sites (n = 4), staff trained (≥ 50%), eligible participants identified (≥ 50%), THN provided to eligible participants (≥ 50%), people at risk of death from opioid overdose identified for inclusion in follow-up (≥ 75% of overdose deaths), outcomes retrieved for high-risk individuals (≥ 75%), and adverse event rate (< 10% difference between study arms). Discussion This feasibility study is the first randomised, methodologically robust investigation of THN distribution in emergency settings. The study addresses an evidence gap related to the effectiveness of THN distribution in emergency settings. As this study is being carried out in emergency settings, obtaining informed consent on behalf of participants is not feasible. We therefore employ novel methods for identifying participants and capturing follow-up data, with effectiveness dependent on the quality of the available routine data. Trial registration ISRCTN13232859 (Registered 16/02/2018)
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Winstanley EL. The Bell Tolls for Thee & Thine: Compassion Fatigue & the Overdose Epidemic. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2020; 85:102796. [PMID: 32499119 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2020.102796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Revised: 05/12/2020] [Accepted: 05/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Non-fatal and fatal overdoses are traumatic events that have been increasing over the past 20 years and disproportionately impacting rural communities in the United States. The human suffering caused by the opioid epidemic is rarely described in the empirical literature. The purpose of this article is to 1) define individual- and community-level overdose-related compassion fatigue (OCF), 2) review measurement of compassion fatigue (CF) and interventions to reduce CF, 3) discuss strategies that may reduce OCF and 4) briefly discuss policy implications. OCF is distress resulting from knowledge of or exposure to overdose-related harms, which at the community-level may prohibit collaboration and adaptive agency to effectively respond. When OCF occurs at a community-level, it could have negative consequences by eroding support for evidence-based services and fueling stigma-driven policies that blame people who use drugs. Empathy underlies both OCF and vicarious resilience by allowing one to understand the suffering caused by overdose deaths and to witness the joy of addiction recovery. Using the risk environment framework, OCF at the micro- and macro-levels of the social environment, may increase rural communities' vulnerability to harm by emphasizing individual responsibility for reducing overdoses rather than community-level infrastructure and resource management. Additional research is needed to develop a measure of OCF and to confirm whether OCF is associated with increased stigma and decreased support for harm reduction in rural areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin L Winstanley
- Department of Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry, School of Medicine, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV.
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Jozaghi E. The Opioid Epidemic: Task-Shifting in Health Care and the Case for Access to Harm Reduction for People Who Use Drugs. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEALTH SERVICES 2020; 52:261-268. [PMID: 32268811 DOI: 10.1177/0020731420914820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
We are sadly experiencing unprecedented levels of overdose mortalities attributed to the increased availability of synthetic opioids in illegal markets. While the majority of attention in North America has focused on preventing drug overdose cases through the distribution and administration of naloxone, in addition to stricter regulations of opioid prescriptions and greater law enforcement in illegal markets, little attention has been given to other alternative models and treatments for people who use drugs that are tailored specifically to the health care needs of this marginalized population. Through this analysis, the implications of task-shifting in health care via the distribution of naloxone for an already marginalized population are discussed. Alternatively, the role of pioneering harm-reduction programs - such as supervised injection/consumption sites, a variety of opioids maintenance therapies, and social-structural interventions - are highlighted as crucial interventions in the current ongoing opioid crisis. Moreover, people with lived experiences of illegal drug use are discussed as having a pivotal role but being ultimately overshadowed by public health partners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ehsan Jozaghi
- The School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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Troberg K, Isendahl P, Blomé MA, Dahlman D, Håkansson A. Protocol for a multi-site study of the effects of overdose prevention education with naloxone distribution program in Skåne County, Sweden. BMC Psychiatry 2020; 20:49. [PMID: 32028921 PMCID: PMC7006080 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-020-2470-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2019] [Accepted: 01/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Continuously high rates of overdose deaths in Sweden led to the decision by the Skåne County to initiate the first regional take-home naloxone program in Sweden. The project aims to study the effect of overdose prevention education and naloxone distribution on overdose mortality in Skåne County. Secondary outcome measures include non-fatal overdoses and overdose-related harm in the general population, as well as cohort-specific effects in study participants regarding overdoses, mortality and retention in naloxone program. METHODS Implementation of a multi-site train-the-trainer cascade model was launched in June 2018. Twenty four facilities, including opioid substitution treatment units, needle exchange programs and in-patient addiction units were included for the first line of start-up, aspiring to reach a majority of individuals at-risk within the first 6 months. Serving as self-sufficient naloxone hubs, these units provide training, naloxone distribution and study recruitment. During 3 years, questionnaires are obtained from initial training, follow up, every sixth month, and upon refill. Estimated sample size is 2000 subjects. Naloxone distribution rates are reported, by each unit, every 6 months. Medical diagnoses, toxicological raw data and data on mortality and cause of death will be collected from national and regional registers, both for included naloxone recipients and for the general population. Data on vital status and treatment needs will be collected from registers of emergency and prehospital care. DISCUSSION Despite a growing body of literature on naloxone distribution, studies on population effect on mortality are scarce. Most previous studies and reports have been uncontrolled, thus not being able to link naloxone distribution to survival, in relation to a comparison period. As Swedish registers present the opportunity to monitor individuals and entire populations over time, conditions for conducting systematic follow-ups in the Swedish population are good, serving the opportunity to study the impact of large scale overdose prevention education and naloxone distribution and thus fill the knowledge gap. TRIAL REGISTRATION Naloxone Treatment in Skåne County - Effect on Drug-related Mortality and Overdose-related Complications, NCT03570099, registered on 26 June 2018.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katja Troberg
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden. .,Division of Psychiatry, Addiction Center Malmö, Region Skåne, Malmö, Sweden. .,Malmö Addiction Centre, Clinical Research Unit, Södra Förstadsg. 35, Plan 4, S-205 02, Malmö, Sweden.
| | - Pernilla Isendahl
- grid.411843.b0000 0004 0623 9987Department of Infectious Disease, University Hospital Skåne, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Marianne Alanko Blomé
- grid.411843.b0000 0004 0623 9987Department of Infectious Disease, University Hospital Skåne, Malmö, Sweden ,Regional Office for Communicable Disease Control, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Disa Dahlman
- grid.4514.40000 0001 0930 2361Department of Clinical Sciences, Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden ,grid.4514.40000 0001 0930 2361Department of Clinical Sciences, Center for Primary Health Care Research, Lund University/Region Skåne, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Anders Håkansson
- grid.4514.40000 0001 0930 2361Department of Clinical Sciences, Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden ,grid.426217.40000 0004 0624 3273Division of Psychiatry, Addiction Center Malmö, Region Skåne, Malmö, Sweden
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Katzman JG, Takeda MY, Greenberg N, Moya Balasch M, Alchbli A, Katzman WG, Salvador JG, Bhatt SR. Association of Take-Home Naloxone and Opioid Overdose Reversals Performed by Patients in an Opioid Treatment Program. JAMA Netw Open 2020; 3:e200117. [PMID: 32101312 PMCID: PMC7137685 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.0117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2019] [Accepted: 12/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Importance The US opioid crisis was deemed a public health emergency in 2017. More than 130 individuals in the US die daily as a result of unintentional opioid overdose deaths. Objective To measure use of take-home naloxone for overdose reversals performed by study participants with opioid use disorder receiving treatment at an opioid treatment program. Design, Setting, and Participants In a year-long cohort study, between April 4, 2016, and May 16, 2017, 395 study participants enrolled at the University of New Mexico Addiction and Substance Abuse Opioid Treatment Program, an outpatient clinic treating substance use disorders. Inclusion criteria included all patients enrolled at University of New Mexico Addiction and Substance Abuse Opioid Treatment Program during the study enrollment period; positive history of opioid use disorder treated with methadone, buprenorphine, or naltrexone; and age 18 years or older. Exclusion criteria included allergy to naloxone and age younger than 18 years. The study closed 1 year after enrollment, on May 17, 2018. Data analysis was performed from May 2018 to July 2019. Exposure Two doses of take-home naloxone combined with opioid overdose education were provided to study participants. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary outcome was to measure the association of take-home naloxone with overdose reversals performed by patients with opioid use disorder enrolled in an opioid treatment program. Results We enrolled 395 study participants (270 female [68.4%]; mean [SD] age, 35.4 [12.6] years; 260 [65.8%] with Hispanic white race/ethnicity) in the 1-year prospective trial. Sixty-eight female participants (25.2% of all female participants) were pregnant at the time of enrollment. Seventy-three of the 395 study participants (18.0%) performed 114 overdose reversals in the community. All community reversals were heroin related. Most study participants (86.8%) stated that the person on whom they performed an overdose reversal was a friend, relative, acquaintance, or significant other. In the year before enrollment, only 18 study participants (4.5%) had been prescribed naloxone. Conclusions and Relevance Take-home naloxone as part of overdose education and naloxone distribution provided to patients in an opioid treatment program may be associated with a strategic targeted harm reduction response for reversing opioid overdose-related deaths. Policy makers may consider regulations to mandate overdose education and naloxone distribution in opioid treatment programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna G. Katzman
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque
- Project ECHO, ECHO Institute, Albuquerque, New Mexico
| | | | - Nina Greenberg
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque
| | | | - Amal Alchbli
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque
| | | | - Julie G. Salvador
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque
| | - Snehal R. Bhatt
- UNM Addiction and Substance Use Program, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque
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Depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, suicidality and self-harm among people who inject drugs: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Drug Alcohol Depend 2020; 207:107793. [PMID: 31874449 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2019.107793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2019] [Revised: 11/27/2019] [Accepted: 11/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A range of negative experiences and circumstances that are common among people who inject drugs (PWID) are risk factors for developing mental disorders. Despite this, there has been no systematic review of the prevalence of mental health indicators among PWID. Thus, we aimed to estimate the prevalence of depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), suicidality and self-harm among PWID. METHODS We searched the peer-reviewed and grey literature for data on depression, PTSD, suicidality and non-suicidal self-harm among PWID from sources published from 2008-2018. We pooled estimates of depression and suicidality using random-effects meta-analysis and provided a narrative summary of estimates of PTSD and self-harm. FINDINGS We found 23 studies that reported on these mental health indicators among PWID. The pooled estimate for current severe depressive symptomology was 42.0 % (95 % confidence interval [CI] = 21.3, 62.8 %), and for a depression diagnosis was 28.7 % (95 % CI = 20.8, 36.6 %). With much variation, the pooled lifetime prevalence of a suicide attempt was 22.1 % (95 % CI = 19.3, 24.9 %). There were only two studies each that reported on PTSD and non-suicidal self-harm among PWID. INTERPRETATION Recent data investigating these mental health indicators among PWID was limited, particularly from low- and middle-income countries. Even so, estimates were high and call for further research into the epidemiology of such mental health disorders and self-harming behaviours, as well as the promotion of integrated mental health and substance dependence treatment. Finally, incorporating suicide prevention strategies into services accessed by PWID must be considered as a harm reduction priority.
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Keen C, Young JT, Borschmann R, Kinner SA. Non-fatal drug overdose after release from prison: A prospective data linkage study. Drug Alcohol Depend 2020; 206:107707. [PMID: 31757517 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2019.107707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2019] [Revised: 10/10/2019] [Accepted: 10/21/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adults released from prison are at increased risk of poor health outcomes and preventable mortality, including from overdose. Non-fatal overdose (NFOD) is a strong predictor of future overdose and associated with considerable morbidity. This study aims to the determine the incidence, predictors and clinical characteristics of NFOD following release from prison. METHODS We used pre-release interview data collected for a randomised controlled trial in 2008-2010, and linked person-level, state-wide ambulance, emergency department, and hospital records, from a representative sample of 1307 adults incarcerated in Queensland, Australia. The incidence of NFOD following release from prison was calculated. A multivariate Andersen-Gill model was used to identify demographic, health, social, and criminal justice predictors of NFOD. RESULTS The crude incidence rate (IR) of NFOD was 47.6 (95%CI 41.1-55.0) per 1000 person-years and was highest in the first 14 days after release from prison (IR = 296 per 1000 person-years, 95%CI 206-426). In multivariate analyses, NFOD after release from prison was positively associated with a recent history of substance use disorder (SUD), dual diagnosis of mental illness and SUD, lifetime history of injecting drug use, lifetime history of NFOD, being dispensed benzodiazepines after release, a shorter index incarceration, and low perceived social support. The risk of NFOD was lower for people with high-risk alcohol use and while incarcerated. CONCLUSIONS Adults released from prison are at high risk of non-fatal overdose, particularly in the first 14 days after release. Providing coordinated transitional care between prison and the community is likely critical to reduce the risk of overdose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Keen
- Justice Health Unit, Centre for Health Equity, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
| | - Jesse T Young
- Justice Health Unit, Centre for Health Equity, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Centre for Adolescent Health, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; School of Population and Global Health, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia; National Drug Research Institute, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Rohan Borschmann
- Justice Health Unit, Centre for Health Equity, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Centre for Adolescent Health, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Health Service and Population Research Department, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK; Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Stuart A Kinner
- Justice Health Unit, Centre for Health Equity, Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Centre for Adolescent Health, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Mater Research Institute-UQ, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; Griffith Criminology Institute, Griffith University, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia; School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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Saini R, Rao R, Parmar A, Mishra AK, Ambekar A, Agrawal A, Dhingra N. Rates, knowledge and risk factors of non-fatal opioid overdose among people who inject drugs in India: A community-based study. Drug Alcohol Rev 2019; 39:93-97. [PMID: 31769134 DOI: 10.1111/dar.13016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2019] [Revised: 11/01/2019] [Accepted: 11/01/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION AND AIMS Non-fatal opioid overdose (NFOO) predicts future fatal opioid overdose and is associated with significant morbidity. There is limited literature on the rates and risk factors for NFOO in people who inject drugs (PWID) from India. We aimed to study the rates of NFOO and documented risk factors for NFOO, as well as knowledge-level of NFOO among PWID from India. DESIGN AND METHODS Community-based, cross-sectional and observational study. We interviewed 104 adult male participants receiving HIV prevention services. Drug use patterns, rates of NFOO and opioid overdose risk factors, knowledge about opioid overdose and its management were assessed. RESULTS The mean age of the participants was 27.9 years. The most common opioid used for injecting was heroin followed by buprenorphine. About 45% (n = 47) participants had experienced an opioid overdose at least once in their lifetime. Around 25% (n = 26) participants had overdosed in the past year, while 21% (n = 22) participants had overdosed within the past 3 months. The majority had risk factors that could predispose them to NFOO. No participant was aware of the use of naloxone for opioid overdose. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION The rates of NFOO as well as risk factors for overdose among PWID from India are high, with poor knowledge on overdose management. There is urgent need for a program to prevent and manage opioid overdose among PWID in India.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romil Saini
- National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre, Department of Psychiatry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Ravindra Rao
- National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre, Department of Psychiatry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Arpit Parmar
- National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre, Department of Psychiatry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Ashwani K Mishra
- National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre, Department of Psychiatry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Atul Ambekar
- National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre, Department of Psychiatry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Alok Agrawal
- National Drug Dependence Treatment Centre, Department of Psychiatry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
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The prevalence of non-fatal overdose among people who inject drugs: A multi-stage systematic review and meta-analysis. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2019; 73:172-184. [DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2019.07.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2019] [Revised: 07/15/2019] [Accepted: 07/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Liang D, Shi Y. The Associations of Neighborhood Availability of Marijuana Dispensaries and DATA-2000 Waivered Providers with Hospital Stays Related to Opioids. Subst Use Misuse 2019; 54:2387-2399. [PMID: 31448651 PMCID: PMC6892428 DOI: 10.1080/10826084.2019.1650775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Background: Evidence is emerging on how state-wide marijuana legalization and increased supply of DATA-2000 waivered providers may be associated with outcomes related to opioids. It is unknown whether such associations remain at the neighborhood level. Objectives: This study examined the associations of neighborhood availability of marijuana dispensaries and DATA-2000 waivered providers with opioid-related hospital stays. Methods: Discharge-level records of inpatient (N = 264,013) and observation stays (N = 12,621) were obtained from the Washington Comprehensive Hospital Abstract Reporting System from January through June 2016. Outcomes were indicators for inpatient stays related to opioid use disorder (OUD), inpatient stays related to opioid overdose, and observation stays related to OUD. Primary predictors were the density of marijuana dispensaries and DATA-2000 waivered providers at the zip code level. Multilevel logistic regressions with random intercepts were used to examine the cross-sectional associations, controlling for other patient and neighborhood characteristics. Results: Patients living in neighborhoods with one more recreational marijuana dispensaries per square mile were more likely (OR = 1.54, p = .017) to be diagnosed with OUD in inpatient stays. Living in neighborhoods with increased density of medical marijuana dispensaries or DATA-2000 waivered providers was not associated with being diagnosed with OUD or opioid overdose in inpatient or observation stays. Conclusions: Recreational and medical marijuana dispensaries were differentially associated with opioid-related hospital stays. Further investigations are warranted to explore the causal pathways of the findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Di Liang
- Department of Family Medicine and Public Health,, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, USA
| | - Yuyan Shi
- Department of Family Medicine and Public Health,, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, USA
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Identifying high-risk areas for nonfatal opioid overdose: a spatial case-control study using EMS run data. Ann Epidemiol 2019; 36:20-25. [PMID: 31405719 DOI: 10.1016/j.annepidem.2019.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2019] [Revised: 06/18/2019] [Accepted: 07/01/2019] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The objective of our study was to incorporate stricter probable nonfatal opioid overdose case criteria, and advanced epidemiologic approaches to more reliably detect local clustering in nonfatal opioid overdose activity in EMS runs data. METHODS Data were obtained using emsCharts for our study area in southwestern Pennsylvania from 2007 to 2018. Cases were identified as emergency medical service (EMS) responses where naloxone was administered, and improvement was noted in patient records between initial and final Glasgow Coma Score. A subsample of all-cause EMS responses sites were used as controls and exact matched to cases on sex and 10-year-age category. Clustering was assessed using difference in Ripley's K function for cases and controls and Kulldorff scan statistics. RESULTS Difference in K functions indicated no significant difference in probable nonfatal overdose EMS runs across the study area compared to all-cause EMS runs. However, scan statistics did identify significant local clustering of probable nonfatal overdose EMS runs (maximum likelihood = 16.40, P = 0.0003). CONCLUSIONS Results highlight relevance of EMS data to detect community-level overdose activity and promote reliable use through stricter case definition criteria and advanced methodological approaches. Techniques examined have the potential to improve targeted delivery of neighborhood-level public health response activities using a near real-time data source.
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Self-Rated Physical Health and Unmet Healthcare Needs among Swedish Patients in Opioid Substitution Treatment. JOURNAL OF ADDICTION 2019; 2019:7942145. [PMID: 31139491 PMCID: PMC6500657 DOI: 10.1155/2019/7942145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2019] [Accepted: 03/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Background Individuals with opioid dependence are at increased risk of deteriorating health due to the lifestyle connected to heroin use. Barriers surrounding the healthcare system seem to hinder patients to seek help through conventional healthcare, even after entering opioid substitution treatment (OST), resulting in a high level of unmet healthcare needs. However, this field is still unexplored, with only a few studies focusing on general health within this population. The first step, in order to provide suitable and accessible primary healthcare, is to assess the extent of physical symptoms and unmet healthcare needs within the OST population, which, to this point, has been sparsely studied. Aim To assess OST patients' self-rated physical health and healthcare seeking behaviour. Methods Two-hundred and eighteen patients from four different OST sites answered a questionnaire regarding physical health and healthcare seeking. Results Patients in OST have a high degree of physical symptoms and a high degree of unmet healthcare needs. Sixty-six percent reported suffering from musculoskeletal pain. Fifty-six percent reported gastrointestinal symptoms. Genital problems and airway symptoms were reported by 47%, respectively, and dental problems were reported by 69% of the respondents. General unmet healthcare needs were reported by 82%. Musculoskeletal pain was positively correlated with having an unstable housing situation (AOR 4.26 [95% CI 1.73-10.48]), negatively correlated with male sex (AOR 0.45 [95% CI 0.22-0.91]), and positively correlated with age (AOR 1.04 [95% CI 1.01-1.07]). No statistically significant correlates of respiratory, gastrointestinal, genital, or dental symptoms were found. Conclusion Patients in OST carry a heavy burden of physical symptoms and unmet healthcare needs, potentially due to societal barriers. Patients' frequent visits to the OST clinics offer a unique opportunity to build a base for easily accessible on-site primary healthcare.
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Prangnell A, Nosova E, Milloy MJ, Wood E, Hayashi K. The relationship between parental heavy drinking and non-fatal overdose among people who inject drugs in Vancouver, Canada. Addict Behav 2019; 89:224-228. [PMID: 30326463 DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2018.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2018] [Revised: 08/01/2018] [Accepted: 08/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite the acute drug-related and behavioural risk factors for experiencing a drug overdose, few remote childhood experiences have been examined as risk factors for subsequent later life overdose risk. Parental heavy drinking has been associated with some later life negative outcomes, but little is known regarding the impact on drug overdoses, especially among people who inject drugs. Given the current overdose crisis in North America, we sought to evaluate the impact of parental heavy drinking on later life non-fatal overdose among people who inject drugs in Vancouver, Canada. METHODS Data were derived from two prospective cohort studies of community-recruited people who inject drugs in Vancouver between December 2012 and May 2016. We employed multivariable generalized estimating equations to examine the relationship between parental heavy drinking and non-fatal overdose in the past six months. RESULTS Among 327 eligible participants, 111 (33.9%) reported parental heavy drinking and 95 (29.1%) reported a non-fatal overdose at least once during the study period. In a multivariable analysis, experiencing parental heavy drinking remained independently associated with non-fatal overdose (adjusted odds ratio: 1.69; 95% confidence interval: 1.07-2.66) after adjustment for a range of socio-demographic and drug using confounders. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest long-term negative impacts of parental heavy drinking, on subsequent risk taking or other mechanisms associated with overdose. Current overdose prevention efforts may benefit from the evaluation of life course vulnerabilities that may be amenable to earlier interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Prangnell
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, St. Paul's Hospital, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada; School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia,2206 East Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z9, Canada.
| | - Ekaterina Nosova
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, St. Paul's Hospital, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada.
| | - M-J Milloy
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, St. Paul's Hospital, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, St. Paul's Hospital, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada.
| | - Evan Wood
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, St. Paul's Hospital, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, St. Paul's Hospital, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada.
| | - Kanna Hayashi
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, St. Paul's Hospital, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada; Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC V5A 1S6, Canada.
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Wallace B, Kennedy MC, Kerr T, Pauly B. Factors Associated with Nonfatal Overdose During a Public Health Emergency. Subst Use Misuse 2019; 54:39-45. [PMID: 30362861 DOI: 10.1080/10826084.2018.1491051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In 2016, in the Canadian province of British Columbia, the Provincial Health Officer declared drug-related overdose deaths a public health emergency. OBJECTIVES In this study, we examine factors associated with recent non-fatal overdose during a time of unprecedented rates of overdose and increasing involvement of fentanyl and fentanyl derivatives in overdose deaths. METHODS Between June and September 2016, a cross-sectional survey was conducted among people who inject drugs (PWID) in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to examine factors associated with recent non-fatal overdose. RESULTS A total of 187 PWID were included in the present study, of whom 56 (29.9%) reported having overdosed in the previous 6 months. In multivariable analyses, fentanyl injection (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR] = 2.60; 95% confidence interval [CI]: (1.08 - 6.27) and public injection (AOR = 2.20; 95% CI: 1.09 - 4.43) were positively associated with recent non-fatal overdose. CONCLUSIONS Fentanyl injection and public injection were associated with an increased likelihood of non-fatal overdose. These findings underscore the need for drug checking, safer sources of opioids and safer injecting interventions as part of overdose prevention strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruce Wallace
- a Centre for Addictions Research of British Columbia , University of Victoria , Victoria , BC , V8W 2Y2 , Canada.,b University of Victoria School of Social Work , Victoria , BC , V8W 2Y2 , Canada
| | - Mary Clare Kennedy
- c British Columbia Centre on Substance Use , St. Paul's Hospital , Vancouver , British Columbia , Canada.,d School of Population and Public Health , University of British Columbia , Vancouver , British Columbia , Canada
| | - Thomas Kerr
- c British Columbia Centre on Substance Use , St. Paul's Hospital , Vancouver , British Columbia , Canada.,e Department of Medicine , University of British Columbia, St. Paul's Hospital , Vancouver , British Columbia , Canada
| | - Bernie Pauly
- a Centre for Addictions Research of British Columbia , University of Victoria , Victoria , BC , V8W 2Y2 , Canada.,f Island Health Scholar in Residence and University of Victoria School of Nursing , Victoria , British Columbia , Canada
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Di Rico R, Nambiar D, Stoové M, Dietze P. Drug overdose in the ED: a record linkage study examining emergency department ICD-10 coding practices in a cohort of people who inject drugs. BMC Health Serv Res 2018; 18:945. [PMID: 30518362 PMCID: PMC6282274 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-018-3756-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2018] [Accepted: 11/22/2018] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Drug overdose is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity amongst people who inject drugs (PWID). Drug overdose surveillance typically relies on the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-10) coding system, however its real world utilisation and the implications for surveillance have not been well characterised. This study examines the patterns of ICD-10 coding pertaining to drug overdoses within emergency departments for a cohort of known PWID. Methods Cohort data from 688 PWID was linked to statewide emergency department administrative data between January 2008 and June 2013. ICD-10 diagnostic codes pertaining to poisonings by drugs, medicaments and biological substances (T-codes T36-T50) as well as mental and behavioural disorders due to psychoactive substance use (F-codes F10-F19) were examined. Results There were 449 unique ED presentations with T or F code mentions contributed by 168 individuals. Nearly half of the T and F codes used were non-specific and did not identify either a drug class (n = 160, 36%) or clinical reaction (n = 46, 10%) and 8% represented withdrawal states. T and F codes could therefore be used to reasonably infer an illicit drug overdose in only 42% (n = 188) of cases. Majority of presentations with T or F overdose codes recorded only one diagnostic code per encounter (83%) and representing multiple-drug overdose (F19.- = 18%) or unidentified substances (T50.9 = 17%) using a single, broad diagnostic code was common. Conclusions Reliance on diagnoses alone when examining ED data will likely significantly underestimate incidence of specific drug overdose due to frequent use of non-specific ICD-10 codes and the use of single diagnostic codes to represent polysubstance overdose. Measures to improve coding specificity should be considered and further work is needed to determine the best way to use ED data in overdose surveillance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rehana Di Rico
- Centre For Population Health, Burnet Institute, 85 Commercial Road, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia.
| | - Dhanya Nambiar
- Centre For Population Health, Burnet Institute, 85 Commercial Road, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia.,Department of Epidemiology & Preventive Medicine, Monash University, 553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, 3004, VIC, Australia
| | - Mark Stoové
- Centre For Population Health, Burnet Institute, 85 Commercial Road, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia.,Department of Epidemiology & Preventive Medicine, Monash University, 553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, 3004, VIC, Australia
| | - Paul Dietze
- Centre For Population Health, Burnet Institute, 85 Commercial Road, Melbourne, VIC, 3004, Australia.,Department of Epidemiology & Preventive Medicine, Monash University, 553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, 3004, VIC, Australia
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Mars SG, Ondocsin J, Ciccarone D. Toots, tastes and tester shots: user accounts of drug sampling methods for gauging heroin potency. Harm Reduct J 2018; 15:26. [PMID: 29769132 PMCID: PMC5956544 DOI: 10.1186/s12954-018-0232-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2018] [Accepted: 04/29/2018] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Internationally, overdose is the primary cause of death among people injecting drugs. However, since 2001, heroin-related overdose deaths in the United States (US) have risen sixfold, paralleled by a rise in the death rate attributed to synthetic opioids, particularly the fentanyls. This paper considers the adaptations some US heroin injectors are making to protect themselves from these risks. METHODS Between 2015 and 2016, a team of ethnographers collected data through semi-structured interviews and observation captured in field notes and video recording of heroin preparation/consumption. Ninety-one current heroin injectors were interviewed (Baltimore, n = 22; Chicago, n = 24; Massachusetts and New Hampshire, n = 36; San Francisco, n = 9). Experience injecting heroin ranged from < 1-47 years. Eight participants, who were exclusively heroin snorters, were also interviewed. Data were analyzed thematically. RESULTS Across the study sites, multiple methods of sampling "heroin" were identified, sometimes used in combination, ranging from non-injecting routes (snorting, smoking or tasting a small amount prior to injection) to injecting a partial dose and waiting. Partial injection took different forms: a "slow shot" where the user injected a portion of the solution in the syringe, keeping the needle in the injection site, and continuing or withdrawing the syringe or a "tester shot" where the solution was divided into separate injections. Other techniques included getting feedback from others using heroin of the same batch or observing those with higher tolerance injecting heroin from the same batch before judging how much to inject themselves. Although a minority of those interviewed described using these drug sampling techniques, there is clearly receptivity among some users to protecting themselves by using a variety of methods. CONCLUSIONS The use of drug sampling as a means of preventing an overdose from injection drug use reduces the quantity absorbed at any one time allowing users to monitor drug strength and titrate their dose accordingly. Given the highly unpredictable potency of the drugs currently being sold as heroin in the US, universal precautions should be adopted more widely. Further research is needed into facilitators and barriers to the uptake of these drug sampling methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah G Mars
- Heroin in Transition Study, Department of Family and Community Medicine, UCSF, 500 Parnassus Avenue, Milberry Union East, 3rd Floor, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA. .,Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Jeff Ondocsin
- Heroin in Transition Study, Department of Family and Community Medicine, UCSF, 500 Parnassus Avenue, Milberry Union East, 3rd Floor, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Daniel Ciccarone
- Heroin in Transition Study, Department of Family and Community Medicine, UCSF, 500 Parnassus Avenue, Milberry Union East, 3rd Floor, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA.,Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
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Young JT, Heffernan E, Borschmann R, Ogloff JRP, Spittal MJ, Kouyoumdjian FG, Preen DB, Butler A, Brophy L, Crilly J, Kinner SA. Dual diagnosis of mental illness and substance use disorder and injury in adults recently released from prison: a prospective cohort study. LANCET PUBLIC HEALTH 2018; 3:e237-e248. [DOI: 10.1016/s2468-2667(18)30052-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2018] [Revised: 02/15/2018] [Accepted: 03/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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