1
|
Maya S, Mirzazadeh A, Kahn JG. Effect of wildfire on the prevalence of opioid misuse through anxiety among young adults in the United States: a modeling study. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:1915. [PMID: 39014350 PMCID: PMC11253393 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-19417-6] [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: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure to climate change events like wildfires can lead to health and mental health problems. While conceptual frameworks have been hypothesized describing the potential relationship between disaster exposure and substance use, the association remains under-researched and unquantified. METHODS We constructed a quantitative portrayal of one proposed conceptual framework that focuses on the intermediary role of anxiety. We used the Monte Carlo simulation to estimate the impact of wildfire exposure on opioid misuse outcomes through increased anxiety. We searched for and extracted prior empirical evidence on the associations between wildfire anxiety and anxiety-opioid misuse. Three scenarios were devised: in S1 the impact of wildfire on opioid misuse was limited to increasing anxiety incidence; in S2 we also considered the additive role of altered anxiety phenotype; and in S3 we further considered the role of increased opioid-related consequences of pre-existing anxiety due to wildfire exposure. RESULTS Models show that the prevalence of opioid misuse post-wildfire may rise to 6.0%-7.2% from a baseline of 5.3%. In S1, the opioid misuse prevalence ratio was 1.12 (95% uncertainty interval [UI]: 1.00 - 1.27). The two exploratory scenarios, with less stringent assumptions, yielded prevalence ratios of 1.23 (95% UI: 1.00 - 1.51) and 1.34 (95% UI: 1.11 - 1.63). CONCLUSIONS Our modeling study suggests that exposure to wildfires may elevate opioid misuse through increasing anxiety incidence and severity. This can lead to substantial health burdens, possibly beyond the duration of the wildfire event, which may offset recent gains in opioid misuse prevention.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sigal Maya
- Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Ali Mirzazadeh
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - James G Kahn
- Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Huang H, Lu Z, Fan X, Zhai W, Zhang L, Xu D, Liu Z, Li Y, Ye X, Qin H, Lanza K, Hang Y. Urban heatwave, green spaces, and mental health: A review based on environmental health risk assessment framework. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 948:174816. [PMID: 39019287 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2024] [Revised: 06/28/2024] [Accepted: 07/13/2024] [Indexed: 07/19/2024]
Abstract
Utilizing the framework of environmental health risk assessment and healing, the article reviews the effectiveness and potential of green space systems in mitigating the impact of high temperatures, promoting mental health, and improving the risk characteristics of high-temperature heat waves. We utilized CiteSpace software to conduct a time-zone analysis of the relationship between heatwaves, green spaces, and health using clustered data from 2001 to 2023. This study evaluates the role of green space systems in mitigating high temperatures and enhancing mental health within the environmental health risk assessment framework. Using CiteSpace software, we analyzed literature from 2001 to 2023, focusing on the interactions among heatwaves, green spaces, and health. Our results indicate that most existing research concentrates on hazard identification, with insufficient exploration of the dose-response relationships between green spaces and temperature reduction. Quantitative studies on green space design and spatial optimization are scarce, and guidance on effective configurations remains limited. Additionally, the health impacts of heatwaves vary by region, with a noticeable imbalance in research focus; Asia and Africa, in particular, are underrepresented in studies addressing heatwave effects. We conclude that effective mitigation strategies require: (1) a comprehensive environmental health risk assessment framework that integrates advanced methods like big data analysis and geospatial simulations to improve green space planning and design; (2) further theoretical exploration into the mechanisms by which green spaces regulate temperature and mental health, including detailed analysis of spatiotemporal patterns and the functional optimization of green space structures; and (3) the development of robust parameterized design guidance based on specific therapeutic dosages (green space stimulus) to optimize configurations and enhance the effectiveness of green spaces in mitigating adverse mental health impacts from deteriorating thermal environments. Future research should prioritize underrepresented regions, focusing on exposure levels, dose-response relationships, and high-temperature warning systems while fostering multidisciplinary collaboration to develop effective urban planning and climate adaptation strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Huanchun Huang
- College of Landscape Architecture, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiang Su 210037, China; School of Architecture & Planning, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA; Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Zefeng Lu
- College of Landscape Architecture, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiang Su 210037, China
| | - Xinmei Fan
- College of Landscape Architecture, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiang Su 210037, China
| | - Wei Zhai
- School of Architecture & Planning, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA.
| | - Linchun Zhang
- College of Landscape Architecture, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, Jiang Su 210037, China
| | - Di Xu
- School of Geographical Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China
| | - Zhifeng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Earth Surface Processes and Resource Ecology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Yong Li
- The First Affiliated Hospital with Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiang Su 210029, China
| | - Xinyue Ye
- School of Architecture, Texas Agricultural and Mechanical University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Haoming Qin
- School of Civil & Environmental Engineering and Construction Management, University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA
| | - Kevin Lanza
- Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Yun Hang
- Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, TX 77030, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Käyhkö J, Malmström Nee Jurgilevich A, Räsänen A, Pörsti S, Juhola S. Policy impact pathways of climate-related urban health vulnerability - A retrospective analysis. Health Place 2024; 88:103266. [PMID: 38761638 DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2024.103266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024]
Abstract
Climate change-related health risks are likely to become more prevalent in cities. Cities are also key actors in adaptation to these risks. Adaptation can take place through intentional measures to reduce vulnerability or exposure and unintentionally through other urban policy processes and outcomes. However, complex and dynamic relations between urban policy impacts and vulnerability development are an understudied phenomena. This limits the understanding of how urban climate-related health risks emerge and evolve. We examine urban policy pathways that influence vulnerability to climate-related health impacts with a most similar - most different case study. With a qualitative retrospective analysis of four urban areas in Finland we unveil the mechanism of how urban policy affects urban environment over time and how these impacts and changes shape vulnerability. Contrasting the most different cases, we show that urban policy impacts set differing preconditions to adaptation between local districts. We conclude by suggesting that to adapt to future challenges in cities with respect to social and ecological justice, it is necessary to mainstream adaptation into urban policies with continuous cross-sector and multi-level dialogue about the development of vulnerability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Janina Käyhkö
- Ecosystems and Environment Research Program, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 65, Viikinkaari 1, 00014, Finland.
| | - Alexandra Malmström Nee Jurgilevich
- Ecosystems and Environment Research Program, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 65, Viikinkaari 1, 00014, Finland.
| | - Aleksi Räsänen
- Bioeconomy and Environment Unit, Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Paavo Havaksen tie 3, 90570, Oulu, Finland; Geography Research Unit, University of Oulu, Finland.
| | - Saara Pörsti
- Ecosystems and Environment Research Program, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 65, Viikinkaari 1, 00014, Finland.
| | - Sirkku Juhola
- Ecosystems and Environment Research Program, Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 65, Viikinkaari 1, 00014, Finland.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Maya S, Mirzazadeh A, Kahn JG. Effect of wildfire on the prevalence of opioid misuse through anxiety among young adults in the United States: A modeling study. RESEARCH SQUARE 2024:rs.3.rs-3940689. [PMID: 38464027 PMCID: PMC10925450 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3940689/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Background Exposure to climate change events like wildfires can lead to health and mental health problems. While conceptual frameworks have been hypothesized describing the potential relationship between disaster exposure and substance use, the association remains under-researched and unquantified. Methods We constructed a quantitative portrayal of one proposed conceptual framework that focuses on the intermediary role of anxiety. We used the Monte Carlo simulation to estimate the impact of wildfire exposure on opioid misuse outcomes through increased anxiety. We searched for and extracted prior empirical evidence on the associations between wildfire anxiety and anxiety-opioid misuse. A base case scenario (S1) was devised in which the impact of wildfire on opioid misuse was limited to increasing anxiety incidence. Two exploratory scenarios investigated the additive roles of altered anxiety phenotype (S2) and increased severity of pre-existing anxiety (S3) due to wildfire exposure. Results Models show that the prevalence of opioid misuse post-wildfire may rise to 6.0%-7.2%. In S1 (base case), the opioid misuse prevalence ratio was 1.12 (95% uncertainty interval [UI]: 1.00 - 1.27). The two exploratory scenarios, with less stringent assumptions, yielded prevalence ratios of 1.23 (95% UI: 1.00 - 1.51) and 1.34 (95% UI: 1.11 - 1.63). Conclusions Our modeling study suggests that exposure to wildfires may elevate opioid misuse through increasing anxiety incidence and severity. This may lead to substantial health burdens that may persist long after the initial wildfire event, which may offset recent gains in opioid misuse prevention.
Collapse
|
5
|
Cook M, Critchlow N, O'Donnell R, MacLean S. Alcohol's contribution to climate change and other environmental degradation: a call for research. Health Promot Int 2024; 39:daae004. [PMID: 38305639 PMCID: PMC10836053 DOI: 10.1093/heapro/daae004] [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] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Climate change is the single biggest health threat facing humanity. The production, distribution and consumption of many fast-moving consumer goods contribute substantially to climate change, principally through releasing greenhouse gas emissions. Here we consider just some of the ways that alcohol-already a key contributor to an array of health, social and economic burdens-exacerbates environmental harms and climate change. We explore current evidence on alcohol production as a resource- and energy-intensive process, contributing to significant environmental degradation through water usage and other carbon emission costs. We argue that the impacts of alcohol production on climate change have been minimally explored by researchers. Yet the extent of the unfolding catastrophe beholds us to consider all available ways to mitigate unnecessary emissions, including from products such as alcohol. We then turn to suggestions for a research agenda on this topic, including investigations of commercial determinants, inequalities and product advice to help consumers choose lower-carbon options. We conclude by arguing that public health researchers already have an array of methodological expertise and experience that is well placed to produce the evidence needed to inform regulation and efforts by alcohol producers and consumers to minimize their contributions to environmental harms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Megan Cook
- Institute for Social Marketing and Health, Faculty of Health Sciences and Sport, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA, Scotland, UK
- Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Plenty Road, Kingsbury Dr, Bundoora VIC 3086, Australia
| | - Nathan Critchlow
- Institute for Social Marketing and Health, Faculty of Health Sciences and Sport, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA, Scotland, UK
| | - Rachel O'Donnell
- Institute for Social Marketing and Health, Faculty of Health Sciences and Sport, University of Stirling, Stirling, FK9 4LA, Scotland, UK
| | - Sarah MacLean
- Centre for Alcohol Policy Research, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Plenty Road, Kingsbury Dr, Bundoora VIC 3086, Australia
- School of Allied Health, Human Services & Sport, La Trobe University, Plenty Road, Kingsbury Dr, Bundoora VIC 3086, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Thawonmas R, Hashizume M, Kim Y. Projections of Temperature-Related Suicide under Climate Change Scenarios in Japan. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2023; 131:117012. [PMID: 37995154 PMCID: PMC10666824 DOI: 10.1289/ehp11246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The impact of climate change on mental health largely remains to be evaluated. Although growing evidence has reported a short-term association between suicide and temperature, future projections of temperature-attributable suicide have not been thoroughly examined. OBJECTIVES We aimed to project the excess temperature-related suicide mortality in Japan under three climate change scenarios until the 2090s. METHODS Daily time series of mean temperature and the number of suicide deaths in 1973-2015 were collected for 47 prefectures in Japan. A two-stage time-stratified case-crossover analysis was used to estimate the temperature-suicide association. We obtained the modeled daily temperature series using five general circulation models under three climate change scenarios from the latest Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) Shared Socioeconomic Pathways scenarios (SSPs): SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, and SSP5-8.5. We projected the excess temperature-related suicide mortality until 2099 for each scenario and evaluated the net relative changes compared with the 2010s. RESULTS During 1973-2015, there was a total of 1,049,592 suicides in Japan. Net increases in temperature-related excess suicide mortality were estimated under all scenarios. The net change in 2090-2099 compared with 2010-2019 was 1.3% [95% empirical confidence interval (eCI): 0.6, 2.4] for the intermediate-emission scenario (SSP2-4.5), 0.6% (95% eCI: 0.1, 1.6) for a low-emission scenario (SSP1-2.6), and 2.4% (95% eCI: 0.7, 3.9) for the extreme scenario (SSP5-8.5). The increases were greater the more extreme the scenarios were, with the highest increase under the most extreme scenario (SSP5-8.5). DISCUSSION This study indicates that Japan may experience a net increase in excess temperature-related suicide mortality, especially under the intermediate and extreme scenarios. The findings underscore the importance of mitigation policies. Further investigations of the future impacts of climate change on mental health including suicide are warranted. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP11246.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ramita Thawonmas
- School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Masahiro Hashizume
- Department of Global Health Policy, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoonhee Kim
- Department of Global Environmental Health, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Harper SL, Cunsolo A, Aylward B, Clayton S, Minor K, Cooper M, Vriezen R. Estimating climate change and mental health impacts in Canada: A cross-sectional survey protocol. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0291303. [PMID: 37819884 PMCID: PMC10566728 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0291303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Climate change has severe and sweeping impacts on mental health. Although research is burgeoning on mental health impacts following climate and weather extremes, less is known about how common these impacts are outside of extreme events. Existing research exploring the prevalence of psychosocial responses to climate change primarily examines university students and uses non-random sampling methods. Herein, our protocol outlines an approach to data collection, processing, and analysis to estimate the population prevalence, magnitude, and distribution of mental health responses to climate change in Canada. A cross-sectional survey of youth and adults aged 13 years and older in Canada will be administered over the course of one year. The questionnaire will take approximately 10 minutes to complete orally and will be administered in English, French, and Inuktitut. The survey will consist of six sections: (1) self-reported past experiences of climate change; (2) self-reported climate-related emotions; (3) self-reported past and current impacts, anticipatory impacts, and vicarious experiences; (4) self-reported subclinical outcomes; (5) self-reported behavioural responses; and (6) demographics. A multi-stage, multi-stratified random probability sampling method will be used to obtain a sample representative of the Canadian population. We will use two different modes of recruitment: an addressed letter sent by postal mail or a telephone call (landlines and cellular). Population-weighted descriptive statistics, principal component analysis, and weighted multivariable regression will be used to analyse the data. The results of this survey will provide the first national prevalence estimates of subclinical mental health responses to climate change outcomes of people living in Canada.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Ashlee Cunsolo
- School of Arctic & Subarctic Studies, Labrador Campus of Memorial University, Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Canada
| | - Breanne Aylward
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Susan Clayton
- College of Wooster, Wooster, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Kelton Minor
- Data Science Institute, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Madison Cooper
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Rachael Vriezen
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Vercammen A, Oswald T, Lawrance E. Psycho-social factors associated with climate distress, hope and behavioural intentions in young UK residents. PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 3:e0001938. [PMID: 37610987 PMCID: PMC10446227 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0001938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/25/2023]
Abstract
Although the UK has been relatively spared significant geophysical impacts of climate change, many people, youth in particular, are increasingly worried about climate change. The psychological distress associated with the (perceived) threat of climate change has been linked to poorer mental wellbeing but can also promote adaptive responses such as engagement in pro-environmental behaviour. In this mixed methods study, we delve deeper into the experience of 'climate distress' among UK residents aged 16-24 (N = 539). We conducted an online survey assessing general mental health, subjective wellbeing, and climate distress with existing scales. We also included novel questions assessing positive and negative life impacts of climate change, open-ended questions on aspirations and priorities for the future, and engagement in pro-environmental and climate actions. Our findings indicate that mental health factors may contribute to vulnerability to climate distress. Predictably, socio-psychological responses to climate change (i.e., frustration over inaction, lack of control, and shame or guilt about one's own contributions) were linked to higher scores on the climate distress scale. Negatively appraised climate change-related events (i.e., seeing an environment they care about change for the worse) were associated with higher climate distress. Individuals with high climate distress (10.1% of our sample) reported worrying about the impact of climate change on their own future more frequently than any other topic surveyed (including personal finance, career, relationships, politics). Both positive (hope/interest) and negative (anger/frustration) emotions inspired action-taking, especially climate activism, which was negatively predicted by guilt/shame and sadness/fear. Private-sphere pro-environmental actions appeared less driven by strong emotions. Overall, our findings present a more nuanced picture of climate distress in terms of emotional responses, behaviour, and mental health. Longitudinal research is urgently needed to understand how distress may change over time, and the conditions that lead to adaptive and maladaptive outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ans Vercammen
- The School of Communication and Arts, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia
- The Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Tassia Oswald
- Department of Psychological Medicine, Kings College London, London, United Kingdom
- The Institute of Global Health Innovation, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Emma Lawrance
- The Institute of Global Health Innovation, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- The Grantham Institute for Climate Change and the Environment, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
- Mental Health Innovations, London, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|