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Sason A, Adelson M, Schreiber S, Peles E. Fentanyl abuse proportion in methadone maintenance treatment, and patients' knowledge about its risks. J Psychiatr Res 2024; 173:254-259. [PMID: 38554621 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychires.2024.03.047] [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: 12/27/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/01/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Fentanyl is not yet routinely monitored among methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) patients in Israel. We aimed 1. to evaluate urine fentanyl proportion changes over 3 years and characterize patients' characteristics 2. To study patients' self-report on fentanyl usage, and compare knowledge about fentanyl risk, before and following brief educational intervention. METHODS Fentanyl in the urine of all current MMT patients was tested every 3 months year between 2021 and 2023, and patients with positive urine fentanyl were characterized. Current patients were interviewed using a fentanyl knowledge questionnaire (effects, indications, and risks) before and following an explanation session. RESULTS Proportion of fentanyl ranged between 9.8 and 15.1%, and patients with urine positive for fentanyl (September 2023) were characterized as having positive urine for pregabalin, cocaine, and benzodiazepine (logistic regression). Of the current 260 patients (87% compliance), 78(30%) self-reported of fentanyl lifetime use ("Ever"), and 182 "never" use. The "Ever" group had higher Knowledge scores than the "Never", both groups improved following the explanatory session (repeated measure). The "Ever" group patients were found with urine positive for cannabis and benzodiazepine on admission to MMT, they were younger, did not manage to gain take-home dose privileges and had a higher fentanyl knowledge score (logistic regression). CONCLUSIONS In the absence of routine fentanyl tests, a high knowledge score, shorter duration in MMT, benzodiazepine usage on admission, and current cannabis usage, may hint of the possibility of fentanyl abuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anat Sason
- Dr. Miriam & Sheldon G. Adelson Clinic for Drug Abuse, Treatment & Research, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Miriam Adelson
- Dr. Miriam & Sheldon G. Adelson Clinic for Drug Abuse, Treatment & Research, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Shaul Schreiber
- Dr. Miriam & Sheldon G. Adelson Clinic for Drug Abuse, Treatment & Research, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel; Tel Aviv University Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Tel Aviv, Israel; Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Einat Peles
- Dr. Miriam & Sheldon G. Adelson Clinic for Drug Abuse, Treatment & Research, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, Israel; Tel Aviv University Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Tel Aviv, Israel; Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
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Tan M, Park C, Goldman J, Biello KB, Buxton J, Hadland SE, Park JN, Sherman SG, Macmadu A, Marshall BDL. Association between willingness to use an overdose prevention center and probation or parole status among people who use drugs in Rhode Island. Harm Reduct J 2024; 21:54. [PMID: 38424553 PMCID: PMC10905878 DOI: 10.1186/s12954-024-00969-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Overdose prevention centers (OPCs) are being implemented in the United States as a strategy to reduce drug-related mortality and morbidity. Previous studies have suggested that people who use drugs (PWUD) with a history of criminal legal system (CLS) involvement (e.g. current probation/parole) are at greater risk of overdose but may also encounter significant barriers to OPC use. The objective of this study was to explore the association between willingness to use an OPC and probation/parole status in a sample of PWUD in Rhode Island. METHODS This study utilized data from the Rhode Island Prescription and Illicit Drug Study, which enrolled adult PWUD from August 2020 to February 2023. We used Pearson's chi-square and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests to assess bivariate associations between willingness to use an OPC and probation/parole status (current/previous/never), as well as other sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics. In multivariable Poisson analyses, we examined the association between willingness to use an OPC and probation/parole status, adjusting for key sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics. RESULTS Among 482 study participants, 67% were male, 56% identified as white, 20% identified as Hispanic/Latine, and the median age was 43 (IQR 35-53). Nearly a quarter (24%) had never been on probation/parole, 44% were not currently on probation/parole but had a lifetime history of probation and parole, and 32% were currently on probation/parole. Most participants (71%) reported willingness to use an OPC, and in both bivariate and multivariable analyses, willingness to use an OPC did not vary by probation/parole status. Crack cocaine use and lifetime non-fatal overdose were associated with greater willingness to use an OPC (all p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS These data demonstrate high willingness to use OPC among PWUD in Rhode Island regardless of CLS-involvement. As OPCs begin to be implemented in Rhode Island, it will be imperative to engage people with CLS-involvement and to ensure access to the OPC and protection against re-incarceration due to potential barriers, such as police surveillance of OPCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Tan
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, 121 South Main Street, Providence, RI, 02903, USA
| | - Carolyn Park
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, 121 South Main Street, Providence, RI, 02903, USA
| | - Jacqueline Goldman
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, 121 South Main Street, Providence, RI, 02903, USA
| | - Katie B Biello
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, 121 South Main Street, Providence, RI, 02903, USA
| | - Jane Buxton
- School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Scott E Hadland
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ju Nyeong Park
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, 121 South Main Street, Providence, RI, 02903, USA
| | - Susan G Sherman
- Department of Health, Behavior, and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Alexandria Macmadu
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, 121 South Main Street, Providence, RI, 02903, USA
| | - Brandon D L Marshall
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University School of Public Health, 121 South Main Street, Providence, RI, 02903, USA.
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Tsang VWL, Wong JS, Westenberg JN, Ramadhan NH, Fadakar H, Nikoo M, Li VW, Mathew N, Azar P, Jang KL, Krausz RM. Systematic review on intentional non-medical fentanyl use among people who use drugs. Front Psychiatry 2024; 15:1347678. [PMID: 38414500 PMCID: PMC10896833 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1347678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Objectives Fentanyl is a highly potent opioid and has, until recently, been considered an unwanted contaminant in the street drug supply among people who use drugs (PWUD). However, it has become a drug of choice for an increasing number of individuals. This systematic review evaluated intentional non-medical fentanyl use among PWUD, specifically by summarizing demographic variance, reasons for use, and resulting patterns of use. Methods The search strategy was developed with a combination of free text keywords and MeSH and non-MeSH keywords, and adapted with database-specific filters to Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and PsychINFO. Studies included were human studies with intentional use of non-medical fentanyl or analogues in individuals older than 13. Only peer-reviewed original articles available in English were included. Results The search resulted in 4437 studies after de-duplication, of which 132 were selected for full-text review. Out of 41 papers included, it was found that individuals who use fentanyl intentionally were more likely to be young, male, and White. They were also more likely to have experienced overdoses, and report injection drug use. There is evidence that fentanyl seeking behaviours are motivated by greater potency, delay of withdrawal, lower cost, and greater availability. Conclusions Among PWUD, individuals who intentionally use fentanyl have severe substance use patterns, precarious living situations, and extensive overdose history. In response to the increasing number of individuals who use fentanyl, alternative treatment approaches need to be developed for more effective management of withdrawal and opioid use disorder. Systematic review registration https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD42021272111.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivian W. L. Tsang
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - James S.H. Wong
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Complex Pain and Addiction Service, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Jean N. Westenberg
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Noor H. Ramadhan
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Hasti Fadakar
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Mohammadali Nikoo
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Complex Pain and Addiction Service, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Victor W. Li
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Complex Pain and Addiction Service, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Nick Mathew
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- BC Mental Health & Substance Use Services, Provincial Health Services Authority, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - Pouya Azar
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- Complex Pain and Addiction Service, Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Kerry L. Jang
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Reinhard M. Krausz
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Simpson KA, Bolshakova M, Kirkpatrick MG, Davis JP, Cho J, Barrington-Trimis J, Kral AH, Bluthenthal RN. Characterizing Opioid Withdrawal Experiences and Consequences Among a Community Sample of People Who Use Opioids. Subst Use Misuse 2024; 59:886-894. [PMID: 38287506 PMCID: PMC11062512 DOI: 10.1080/10826084.2024.2306221] [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] [Indexed: 01/31/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Opioid withdrawal symptoms are a highly salient and consequential health condition experienced by people who use opioids (PWUO). This study utilized qualitative interviews to explore opioid withdrawal experiences and consequences among PWUO in Los Angeles County, USA. METHODS Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with 22 PWUO (aged 27-63 years) between May 2021 and May 2022. Participants self-reported opioid and injection drug use in the last 30 days. We employed an inductive thematic approach to systematically code and synthesize textual interview data. RESULTS Participants experienced withdrawal symptoms frequently, with many going to great lengths to avoid them. Withdrawal pain was described as incapacitating and interfered with PWUO's ability to sustain regular employment and ensure stable housing. Avoiding withdrawal was described as influential in driving decisions to continue using opioids. Mechanisms for managing withdrawal included using other substances to the point of sedation. PWUO who transitioned from heroin to fentanyl use revealed more frequent, painful, and faster onset of withdrawal symptoms. Adverse withdrawal experiences and fear of precipitated withdrawal from buprenorphine were barriers to treatment initiation and continuation. CONCLUSION Withdrawal symptoms among PWUO increase health risk. Improved strategies to treat opioid withdrawal are urgently needed. Solutions such as safe supply and intentional opioid withdrawal interventions (educational trainings, withdrawal comfort kits) are needed to improve withdrawal management and reduce opioid-related harm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelsey A. Simpson
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, 9500, Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, 1845 N. Soto St. Los Angeles, CA 90033
| | - Maria Bolshakova
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, 1845 N. Soto St. Los Angeles, CA 90033
| | - Matthew G. Kirkpatrick
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, 1845 N. Soto St. Los Angeles, CA 90033
| | - Jordan P. Davis
- University of Southern California Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work, 669 W 34th Street, Los Angeles, CA 90089
| | - Junhan Cho
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, 1845 N. Soto St. Los Angeles, CA 90033
| | - Jessica Barrington-Trimis
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, 1845 N. Soto St. Los Angeles, CA 90033
| | - Alex H. Kral
- Community Health Research Division, RTI International, 2150 Shattuck Avenue, Suite 800, Berkeley, CA 94704
| | - Ricky N. Bluthenthal
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California, 1845 N. Soto St. Los Angeles, CA 90033
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Jones AA, Shearer RD, Segel JE, Santos-Lozada A, Strong-Jones S, Vest N, Teixeira da Silva D, Khatri UG, Winkelman TNA. Opioid and stimulant attributed treatment admissions and fatal overdoses: Using national surveillance data to examine the intersection of race, sex, and polysubstance use, 1992-2020. Drug Alcohol Depend 2023; 249:109946. [PMID: 37354584 PMCID: PMC10375360 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2023.109946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We use national surveillance data to evaluate race/ethnicity by sex/gender differences and trends in substance use treatment admissions and overdose deaths involving opioid and stimulant use. METHODS We used data (1992-2019) from the Treatment Episode Dataset-Admissions to identify treatment admissions and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (1999-2020) to identify overdose deaths. We assessed treatment admissions and related drug overdose deaths per 100,000 adults by sex and race/ethnicity for opioid and stimulant groups: cocaine, opioid, methamphetamines, cocaine and opioid use, cocaine and methamphetamines, and opioid and methamphetamines. RESULTS We found significant variations in treatment admissions and deaths by race/ethnicity and sex/gender. Cocaine-related treatment admissions and deaths were most prevalent among Non-Hispanic Black individuals over the study years, yet lower rates were evident among individuals from other racial/ethnic groups. Notably, Non-Hispanic Black men experienced larger increases in cocaine-only admissions than men of other racial/ethnic groups between 1992 and 2019. Men had higher opioid and stimulant treatment admissions and overdose deaths than women. We observed skyrocketing methamphetamine deaths among American Indian/Native Alaskan men and women from 1992 to 2019. DISCUSSION Steep increases in overdose deaths fueled by methamphetamines among Non-Hispanic Native Americans and cocaine among Non-Hispanic Black individuals suggest a need for more effective interventions to curb stimulant use. Variations by race/ethnicity and sex/gender also suggest interventions should be developed through an intersectionality lens.
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Affiliation(s)
- A A Jones
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies and Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA16801, USA; Consortium for Substance Use and Addiction, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA16801, USA.
| | - R D Shearer
- Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - J E Segel
- Consortium for Substance Use and Addiction, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA16801, USA; Department of Health Policy and Administration, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA16801, USA; Department of Public Health Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA16801, USA
| | - A Santos-Lozada
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies and Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA16801, USA
| | - S Strong-Jones
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies and Family Studies, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA16801, USA
| | - N Vest
- Department of Community and Health Sciences, School of Public Health, Boston University, Boston, MA02118, USA
| | - D Teixeira da Silva
- National Clinician Scholars Program, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - U G Khatri
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA; Institute for Health Equity Research, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - T N A Winkelman
- Health, Homelessness, and Criminal Justice Lab, Hennepin Healthcare Research Institute, Minneapolis, MN 55415, USA; Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Hennepin Healthcare, Minneapolis, MN 55415, USA
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Larnder A, Saatchi A, Borden SA, Moa B, Gill CG, Wallace B, Hore D. Variability in the unregulated opioid market in the context of extreme rates of overdose. Drug Alcohol Depend 2022; 235:109427. [PMID: 35405459 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2022.109427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Revised: 03/19/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Drug checking uses analytical chemistry technologies to report on the composition of drugs from the unregulated market to reduce substance use-related risks, while additionally allowing for monitoring and reporting of the supply. In the context of an overdose crisis linked to fentanyl, we used drug checking data to examine variability within the illicit opioid supply. METHODS In this time-series analysis, data was collected from a drug checking service in Victoria, Canada from November 2020 to July 2021. Drugs reported as opioids by participants of the service (N = 454) were analyzed to determine sample composition and paper spray mass spectroscopy was used to quantify low-concentration actives. Interquartile and statistical process control (SPC) analysis, namely standard deviation control charts, were used to examine the degree of variability among samples. RESULTS Fentanyl was found in 96% of samples reported to be opioids, with a median concentration of 9%. Concentrations varied significantly, with a standard deviation of 7% for fentanyl and where nearly 20% of data points fell outside the control limits. Over half of the samples contained an additional and unexpected active, most commonly etizolam (43% of samples). Etizolam also showed a large level of variability, uncorrelated to that of fentanyl. CONCLUSIONS Based on our chemical quantification and SPC analysis, a high degree of variability was found in opioid samples from the unregulated market in both the drugs detected and the concentrations of those drugs. This demonstrated the opioid crisis to be less attributable to a bad batch of drugs but rather the general variability found in the unregulated market.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley Larnder
- Department of Chemistry, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, V8W 3V6, Canada
| | - Armin Saatchi
- Department of Chemistry, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, V8W 3V6, Canada; Applied Environmental Research Laboratories (AERL), Department of Chemistry, Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo, British Columbia V9R 5S5, Canada
| | - Scott A Borden
- Department of Chemistry, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, V8W 3V6, Canada; Applied Environmental Research Laboratories (AERL), Department of Chemistry, Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo, British Columbia V9R 5S5, Canada
| | - Belaid Moa
- University Systems, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia V8W 2Y2, Canada; Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia V8W 2Y2, Canada
| | - Chris G Gill
- Department of Chemistry, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, V8W 3V6, Canada; Applied Environmental Research Laboratories (AERL), Department of Chemistry, Vancouver Island University, Nanaimo, British Columbia V9R 5S5, Canada; Department of Chemistry, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia V5A 1S6, Canada; Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195, United States.
| | - Bruce Wallace
- Canadian Institute for Substance Use Research, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia V8W 2Y2, Canada; School of Social Work, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia V8W 2Y2, Canada.
| | - Dennis Hore
- Department of Chemistry, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, V8W 3V6, Canada; Department of Computer Science, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia V8W 3P6, Canada.
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Han Y, Cao L, Yuan K, Shi J, Yan W, Lu L. Unique Pharmacology, Brain Dysfunction, and Therapeutic Advancements for Fentanyl Misuse and Abuse. Neurosci Bull 2022; 38:1365-1382. [PMID: 35570233 PMCID: PMC9107910 DOI: 10.1007/s12264-022-00872-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Fentanyl is a fully synthetic opioid with analgesic and anesthetic properties. It has become a primary driver of the deadliest opioid crisis in the United States and elsewhere, consequently imposing devastating social, economic, and health burdens worldwide. However, the neural mechanisms that underlie the behavioral effects of fentanyl and its analogs are largely unknown, and approaches to prevent fentanyl abuse and fentanyl-related overdose deaths are scarce. This review presents the abuse potential and unique pharmacology of fentanyl and elucidates its potential mechanisms of action, including neural circuit dysfunction and neuroinflammation. We discuss recent progress in the development of pharmacological interventions, anti-fentanyl vaccines, anti-fentanyl/heroin conjugate vaccines, and monoclonal antibodies to attenuate fentanyl-seeking and prevent fentanyl-induced respiratory depression. However, translational studies and clinical trials are still lacking. Considering the present opioid crisis, the development of effective pharmacological and immunological strategies to prevent fentanyl abuse and overdose are urgently needed.
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Jiang X, Guy GP, Dunphy C, Pickens CM, Jones CM. Characteristics of adults reporting illicitly manufactured fentanyl or heroin use or prescription opioid misuse in the United States, 2019. Drug Alcohol Depend 2021; 229:109160. [PMID: 34740067 PMCID: PMC8671312 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2021.109160] [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: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 09/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/16/2021] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Deaths involving illicitly manufactured fentanyl (IMF) have increased since 2013 in the United States. Little research has examined individuals using IMF. This study aims to explore the characteristics of US adults who used IMF, heroin, or misused prescription opioids and examine the associations between demographic, clinical, psychosocial characteristics and IMF use. METHODS A convenience sample of adults aged ≥ 18 years being assessed for substance use disorder (SUD) treatment was collected between January-December 2019 using the Addiction Severity Index-Multimedia Version instrument. We used a multivariable logistic regression model to examine the associations between demographic, clinical, psychosocial characteristics and IMF use. RESULTS Adults reporting IMF as their primary lifetime substance use problem also reported using other substances-most often alcohol or heroin-both in the past 30 days and during their lifetime. Characteristics associated with increased odds of reporting IMF as the primary lifetime substance use problem included age 18-24 years (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.68; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.18-2.38) versus 45-54 years, non-Hispanic Black persons (aOR = 1.44; 95% CI = 1.11-1.85) versus non-Hispanic White persons, being assessed in Northeast (aOR = 15.46; 95% CI = 8.67-27.56) versus West, and having a history of at least one lifetime overdose (1 overdose (aOR = 1.91; 95% CI = 1.49-2.44); 2 overdoses (aOR = 1.95; 95% CI = 1.48-2.58); 3 or more overdoses (aOR = 2.27; 95% CI = 1.82-2.82)). CONCLUSIONS These findings provide new insights into this high-risk population and help identify strategies to address increasing overdose death rates involving IMF. Opportunities for intervention include expanding naloxone distribution and harm reduction programs and connecting individuals with nonfatal overdoses to SUD treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyi Jiang
- Division of Overdose Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, CDC, 4700 Buford Highway NE, Atlanta, GA 30341, United States
| | - Gery P. Guy
- Division of Overdose Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, CDC, 4700 Buford Highway NE, Atlanta, GA 30341, United States
| | - Christopher Dunphy
- Division of Overdose Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, CDC, 4700 Buford Highway NE, Atlanta, GA 30341, United States
| | - Cassandra M. Pickens
- Division of Overdose Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, CDC, 4700 Buford Highway NE, Atlanta, GA 30341, United States
| | - Christopher M. Jones
- National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, CDC, 4700 Buford Highway NE, Atlanta, GA 30341, United States,Correspondence to: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway NE, Atlanta, GA 30341, United States. (C.M. Jones)
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