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Bailey A, Taylor BG, Pollack HA, Schneider JA, Evans EA. Gender identity, stimulant drug use, and criminal justice history on internalized stigma among a nationally representative sample of adults who misuse opioids. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 2024; 59:305-313. [PMID: 37322292 PMCID: PMC10721725 DOI: 10.1007/s00127-023-02500-5] [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: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE The rise of fatal stimulant use among adults who use opioids is a public health problem. Internalized stigma is a barrier to substance use treatment, which is greater for women and populations with criminal justice involvement. METHODS Using a nationally representative sample of adults in the United States from a probability-based survey on household opinions in 2021, we examined characteristics of women (n = 289) and men (n = 416) who misuse opioids. In gender-stratified multivariable linear regression, we investigated factors associated with internalized stigma, and tested for the interaction of stimulant use and criminal justice involvement. RESULTS Compared to men, women reported greater mental health symptom severity (3.2 vs. 2.7 on a 1 to 6 scale, p < 0.001). Internalized stigma was similar between women (2.3 ± 1.1) and men (2.2 ± 0.1). Among women and not men, however, stimulant use was positively associated with internalized stigma (0.36, 95% CI [0.07, 0.65]; p = 0.02). Interaction between stimulant use and criminal justice involvement was negatively associated with internalized stigma among women (- 0.60, 95% CI [- 1.16, -0.04]; p = 0.04); among men, the interaction was not significant. Predictive margins illustrate among women, stimulant use eliminated the gap in internalized stigma such that women with no criminal justice involvement had a similar level of internalized stigma as women with criminal justice involvement. CONCLUSION Internalized stigma between women and men who misuse opioids differed based on stimulant use and criminal justice involvement. Future research should assess whether internalized stigma influences treatment utilization among women with criminal justice involvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amelia Bailey
- Department of Behavioral and Social Sciences, School of Public Health, School of Public Health, Brown University, Box G-S121-3, Providence, RI, 02912, USA.
- Department of Health Promotion and Policy, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 715 N. Pleasant St., Arnold House, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA.
| | - Bruce G Taylor
- Public Health Department, NORC at the University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Harold A Pollack
- Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | | | - Elizabeth A Evans
- Department of Health Promotion and Policy, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 715 N. Pleasant St., Arnold House, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA
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Weant KA, Hall GA. Possible Delay in Symptomatology of a Methadone Overdose in a Patient Ingesting an Energy Drink and Dextroamphetamine/Amphetamine. J Pharm Pract 2023; 36:1249-1252. [PMID: 35514326 DOI: 10.1177/08971900221100812] [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: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: Methadone is a mu-opioid agonist with a delayed time to peak concentration that requires an extended period of monitoring following an overdose. Available data suggests that the combination of psychostimulants with methadone may augment antinociception and tolerance to opioids. Case Report: A 26-year-old male (83.9 kg) presented to the ED approximately 1 hour after unintentionally ingesting 200-250 mg of liquid methadone and an energy drink, along with 20 mg of dextroamphetamine/amphetamine prior to the event. Vital signs were: blood pressure (BP), 143/91 mmHg; heart rate (HR), 74; respirations (RR), 16; oxygen saturation 95% on room air. His urine drug screen was positive for amphetamines and methadone. Patient was monitored for 4 hours with no change in status and was discharged home. Approximately 26 hours later patient was found cyanotic and apneic. Patient was given 2 mg of naloxone and awoke with normal mental status. On presentation the patient's vital signs were: BP, 114/70 mmHg; HR, 114; RR 16; oxygen saturation 94% on 3 liters nasal cannula. During his ED stay, he required 2 doses of naloxone secondary to oxygen desaturation and was admitted to the hospital. His repeat urine drug screen was positive for amphetamines and methadone. The patient was discharged the following day. Discussion: This case illustrates an unintentional methadone overdose combined with the intentional ingestion of an energy drink and dextroamphetamine/amphetamine that possibly masked the toxicity for over 24 hrs. Monitoring parameters for methadone overdoses may need re-evaluation in the setting of the co-ingestion of a stimulant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle A Weant
- College of Pharmacy, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Gregory A Hall
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
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Hornick MG, Stefanski A. Hallucinogenic potential: a review of psychoplastogens for the treatment of opioid use disorder. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1221719. [PMID: 37675046 PMCID: PMC10477608 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1221719] [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: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The United States is entering its fourth decade of the opioid epidemic with no clear end in sight. At the center of the epidemic is an increase in opioid use disorder (OUD), a complex condition encompassing physical addiction, psychological comorbidities, and socioeconomic and legal travails associated with the misuse and abuse of opioids. Existing behavioral and medication-assisted therapies show limited efficacy as they are hampered by lack of access, strict regimens, and failure to fully address the non-pharmacological aspects of the disease. A growing body of research has indicated the potential of hallucinogens to efficaciously and expeditiously treat addictions, including OUD, by a novel combination of pharmacology, neuroplasticity, and psychological mechanisms. Nonetheless, research into these compounds has been hindered due to legal, social, and safety concerns. This review will examine the preclinical and clinical evidence that psychoplastogens, such as ibogaine, ketamine, and classic psychedelics, may offer a unique, holistic alternative for the treatment of OUD while acknowledging that further research is needed to establish long-term efficacy along with proper safety and ethical guidelines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary G. Hornick
- College of Science, Health and Pharmacy, Roosevelt University, Schaumburg, IL, United States
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Price O, Sutherland R, Man N, Bruno R, Dietze P, Salom C, Akhurst J, Peacock A. Trends and psychosocial correlates of same day polysubstance use among people who inject drugs in Australia, 2012-2022. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2023:104150. [PMID: 37541925 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2023.104150] [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: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Polysubstance use is associated with negative health and social outcomes among people who inject drugs. We aimed to describe trends in polysubstance use and identify psychosocial correlates and associated drug use risk behaviours. We defined polysubstance use as intentional same day use of more than one of three drug classes: opioids, other non-opioid depressants (hereafter 'depressants'), and stimulants. METHODS We used 10 years (2012-2022, excluding 2020) of data from annual surveys in Australian capital cities with people who inject drugs (N=5657) to construct five mutually exclusive polysubstance use profiles: opioid-depressant, opioid-stimulant, stimulant-depressant, opioid-stimulant-depressant, and single drug class use. We examined time trends using the Mann Kendall test and identified correlates using multinomial logistic regression. RESULTS Same day polysubstance use was relatively common among this sample (43.6%). Opioid-depressant use was the most frequent polysubstance use profile, but this decreased over the study period (32.6% to 13.3%, p<0.001). This aligned with observed decreases in use of pharmaceutical opioids (p<0.001), opioid agonist treatment (p=0.007), and benzodiazepines (p=0.001). There was no evidence for any trend in the other polysubstance use profiles, although single drug class use increased (51.9% to 64.7%, p=0.031). The different polysubstance use profiles were variously associated with psychosocial factors, including unstable housing and very high psychological distress, and other drug use risk behaviours, including non-fatal overdose, receptive and/or distributive needle sharing, and reusing one's own needles. CONCLUSION Same day polysubstance use has remained relatively common among this sample over time, although the typology has changed. Collectively, our findings point to diverse drug use patterns among people who inject drugs and reiterate the need for a range of harm reduction, treatment, and support options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia Price
- National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
| | - Rachel Sutherland
- National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Nicola Man
- National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Raimondo Bruno
- National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; School of Psychological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - Paul Dietze
- Behaviours and Health Risks, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Australia; National Drug Research Institute, Curtin University, Melbourne, Australia; School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne Australia
| | - Caroline Salom
- National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Institute for Social Science Research, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Jane Akhurst
- National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Amy Peacock
- National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; School of Psychological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
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Levy S, Bassler J, Gagnon K, Prados M, Jeziorski M, McCleskey B, Crockett K, Li L, Bradford D, Cropsey K, Eaton E. Methamphetamines and Serious Injection-Related Infections: Opioid Use Care Continuum and Opportunities to End Alabama's Drug Crisis. Open Forum Infect Dis 2022; 10:ofac708. [PMID: 36726543 PMCID: PMC9879754 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofac708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Increasingly, injection opioid use and opioid use disorder (OUD) are complicated by methamphetamine use, but the impact of stimulant use on the care of people who inject drugs (PWID) with serious injection-related infections (SIRIs) is unknown. The objective of this study was to explore hospital outcomes and postdischarge trends for a cohort of hospitalized PWID to identify opportunities for intervention. Methods We queried the electronic medical record for patients hospitalized at the University of Alabama at Birmingham with injection drug use-related infections between 1/11/2016 and 4/24/2021. Patients were categorized as having OUD only (OUD), OUD plus methamphetamine use (OUD/meth), or injection of other substance(s) (other). We utilized statistical analyses to assess group differences across hospital outcomes and postdischarge trends. We determined the OUD continuum of care for those with OUD, with and without methamphetamine use. Results A total of 370 patients met inclusion criteria-many with readmissions (98%) and high mortality (8%). The majority were White, male, and uninsured, with a median age of 38. One in 4 resided outside of a metropolitan area. There were significant differences according to substance use in terms of sociodemographics and hospital outcomes: patients with OUD/meth were more likely to leave via patient-directed discharge, but those with OUD only had the greatest mortality. Comorbid methamphetamine use did not significantly impact the OUD care continuum. Conclusions The current drug crisis in AL will require targeted interventions to engage a young, uninsured population with SIRI in evidence-based addiction and infection services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sera Levy
- Correspondence: Sera Levy, MS, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, Heersink School of Medicine, UAB, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, L107 Volker Hall, 1670 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL 35233 ()
| | - John Bassler
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Kelly Gagnon
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Myles Prados
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Madison Jeziorski
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Brandi McCleskey
- Department of Pathology, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Kaylee Crockett
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Li Li
- Department of Psychiatry, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Davis Bradford
- Department of Internal Medicine, Heersink School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
| | - Karen Cropsey
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, Heersink School of Medicine, UAB, The University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
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Delcher C, Harris DR, Anthony N, Stoops WW, Thompson K, Quesinberry D. Substance use disorders and social determinants of health from electronic medical records obtained during Kentucky's "triple wave". Pharmacol Biochem Behav 2022; 221:173495. [PMID: 36427682 PMCID: PMC10082996 DOI: 10.1016/j.pbb.2022.173495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 10/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Social determinants of health (SDOH) play a critical role in the risk of harmful drug use. Examining SDOH as a means of differentiating populations with multiple co-occurring substance use disorders (SUDs) is particularly salient in the era of prevalent opioid and stimulant use known as the "Third Wave". This study uses electronic medical records (EMRs) from a safety net hospital system from 14,032 patients in Kentucky from 2017 to 2019 in order to 1) define three types of SUD cohorts with shared/unique risk factors, 2) identify patients with unstable housing using novel methods for EMRs and 3) link patients to their residential neighborhood to obtain quantitative perspective on social vulnerability. We identified patients in three cohorts with statistically significant unique risk factors that included race, biological sex, insurance type, smoking status, and urban/rural residential location. Adjusting for these variables, we found a statistically significant, increasing risk gradient for patients experiencing unstable housing by cohort type: opioid-only (n = 7385, reference), stimulant-only (n = 4794, odds ratio (aOR) 1.86 95 % confidence interval (CI): 1.66-2.09), and co-diagnosed (n = 1853, aOR = 2.75, 95 % CI: 2.39 to 3.16). At the neighborhood-level, we used 8 different measures of social vulnerability and found that, for the most part, increasing proportions of patients with stimulant use living in a census tract was associated with more social vulnerability. Our study identifies potentially modifiable factors that can be tailored by substance type and demonstrates robust use of EMRs to meet national goals of enhancing research on social determinants of health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris Delcher
- Institute for Pharmaceutical Outcomes & Policy, Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, United States of America; Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center, University of Kentucky, United States of America.
| | - Daniel R Harris
- Institute for Pharmaceutical Outcomes & Policy, Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, United States of America; Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center, University of Kentucky, United States of America
| | - Nicholas Anthony
- Institute for Pharmaceutical Outcomes & Policy, Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, United States of America
| | - William W Stoops
- Departments of Behavioral Science and Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Department of Psychology, College of Arts & Sciences, University of Kentucky, United States of America
| | - Katherine Thompson
- Department of Statistics, College of Arts & Sciences, University of Kentucky, United States of America
| | - Dana Quesinberry
- Department of Health Management and Policy, College of Public Health, University of Kentucky, United States of America; Kentucky Injury Prevention and Research Center, University of Kentucky, United States of America
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Edinoff AN, Wu NW, Nix CA, Bonin B, Mouhaffel R, Vining S, Gibson W, Cornett EM, Murnane KS, Kaye AM, Kaye AD. Historical Pathways for Opioid Addiction, Withdrawal with Traditional and Alternative Treatment Options with Ketamine, Cannabinoids, and Noribogaine: A Narrative Review. Health Psychol Res 2022; 10:38672. [PMID: 36628122 PMCID: PMC9817468 DOI: 10.52965/001c.38672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Even as prescription opioid dispensing rates have begun to decrease, the use of illicit opioids such as heroin and fentanyl has increased. Thus, the end of the opioid epidemic is not in sight, and treating patients that are addicted to opioids remains of utmost importance. Currently, the primary pharmacotherapies used to treat opioid addiction over the long term are the opioid antagonist naltrexone, the partial-agonist buprenorphine, and the full agonist methadone. Naloxone is an antagonist used to rapidly reverse opioid overdose. While these treatments are well-established and used regularly, the gravity of the opioid epidemic necessitates that all possible avenues of treatment be explored. Therefore, in this narrative review, we analyze current literature regarding use of the alternative medications ketamine, noribogaine, and cannabinoids in treating patients suffering from opioid use disorder. Beyond its use as an anesthetic, ketamine has been shown to have many applications in several medical specialties. Of particular interest to the subject at hand, ketamine is promising in treating individuals addicted to opioids, alcohol, and cocaine. Therapeutically administered cannabinoids have been proposed for the treatment of multiple illnesses. These include, but are not limited to epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain conditions, anxiety disorders, and addiction. The cannabinoid dronabinol has been seen to have varying effects. High doses appear to reduce withdrawal symptoms but this comes at the expense of increased adverse side effects such as sedation and tachycardia. Noribogaine is a weak MOR antagonist and relatively potent KOR agonist, which may explain the clinical anti-addictive effects. More research should be done to assess the viability of these medications for the treatment of OUD and withdrawal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amber N. Edinoff
- Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Shreveport; Louisiana Addiction Research Center
| | - Natalie W. Wu
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine,
Louisiana State University Health Shreveport
| | - Catherine A. Nix
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Shreveport; Louisiana Addiction Research Center
| | - Bryce Bonin
- School of Medicine,
Louisiana State University Health Shreveport
| | - Rama Mouhaffel
- School of Medicine,
Louisiana State University Health Shreveport
| | - Stephen Vining
- School of Medicine,
Louisiana State University Health Shreveport
| | - William Gibson
- School of Medicine,
Louisiana State University New Orleans
| | - Elyse M. Cornett
- Department of Anesthesiology,
Louisiana State University Shreveport
| | - Kevin S. Murnane
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Shreveport; Louisiana Addiction Research Center; Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology & Neuroscience, Louisiana State University Health Shreveport
| | - Adam M. Kaye
- Department of Pharmacy Practice,
Thomas J. Long School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, University of the Pacific
| | - Alan D. Kaye
- Louisiana Addiction Research Center, Shreveport; Department of Anesthesiology, Louisiana State University Shreveport
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Delcher C, Harris DR, Anthony N, Mir M. Opioid Overdoses Increase at Home During the COVID-19 Stay-At-Home Order Period in Cook County, Illinois. AJPM FOCUS 2022; 1:100007. [PMID: 36942018 PMCID: PMC9213020 DOI: 10.1016/j.focus.2022.100007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Introduction Stay-at-home orders during the COVID-19 pandemic decreased population mobility to reduce SARS-CoV-2 infection rates. We empirically tested the hypothesis that this public health measure was associated with a higher likelihood of opioid- and stimulant-involved deaths occurring in homes located in Cook County, Illinois. Methods The stay-at-home period was from March 21, 2020 to May 30, 2020. We analyzed overdose data from the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office using a death location description from case investigations categorized as home, medical, motel, scene, and other. Two groups of decedents were defined as either having an opioid or stimulant listed in the primary cause of death field. We modeled a weekly time series to detect changes in deaths (number) and trends during segmented time periods. Chi-square or Fisher's exact and adjusted logistic regression was used for testing the differences between the stay-at-home and a 13-week preceding period. Results There were 4,169 and 2,012 opioid- and stimulant-involved deaths, respectively, from 2018 to 2020. Both groups were demographically similar: 75% male, 52% White, and aged 45 years (mean). In the 13 weeks before stay-at-home orders, 51% of opioid-involved deaths occurred in homes, which increased to 59% (p<0.0001) during the 10 weeks of the order and decreased back to 51% in the 18 weeks after the order expired. For stimulant-involved deaths, 51% were residential immediately before the orders, with a nonsignificant increase to 52% during the stay-at-home period. Before the pandemic, there were 20 deaths/week, increasing to 37 deaths/week (p<0.0001) during stay-at-home enactment. Deaths involving fentanyl among the opioid-involved group increased from 76% to 89%, whereas those involving heroin decreased from 55% to 37%. The adjusted OR for opioid-involved fatal overdoses occurring at home during this period compared with that occurring the 13 weeks before was 1.37 (95% CI=1.05, 1.79). Conclusions The likelihood of a death occurring at home, especially for people using opioids, increased during the stay-at-home order period. Findings have implications for mitigating overdose risks during social isolation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris Delcher
- Institute for Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, UK College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
- Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science, UK College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
| | - Daniel R Harris
- Institute for Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, UK College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
- Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science, UK College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
| | - Nicholas Anthony
- Institute for Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy, UK College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
- Department of Pharmacy Practice and Science, UK College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
| | - Mojde Mir
- Cook County Medical Examiner's Office, Chicago, Illinois
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Ivsins A, Fleming T, Barker A, Mansoor M, Thakarar K, Sue K, McNeil R. The practice and embodiment of "goofballs": A qualitative study exploring the co-injection of methamphetamines and opioids. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2022; 107:103791. [PMID: 35830749 PMCID: PMC10894463 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2022.103791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2022] [Revised: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 07/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Polysubstance use is common among people who use drugs, including the co-use of stimulants and opioids. Research suggests the practice of simultaneous co-injection of methamphetamines and opioids, often referred to as "goofballs", is increasing. As a relatively unique drug use practice, little qualitative research currently exists on goofball injecting. This study explores the practice and embodied experiences of goofball injecting. METHODS This article draws on in-depth interviews conducted across two qualitative studies undertaken in Vancouver, Canada's Downtown Eastside neighbourhood examining changing dynamics in relation to stimulant use and experiences with an overdose prevention site-based safer supply intervention, respectively. Interviews containing discussions of goofball use (n=29) were extracted from each study and merged into a single qualitative dataset. Data were analysed thematically and focused on the practices and embodied experiences of goofball injection. RESULTS Our analysis uncovered how goofball injection represented a complex drug use practice driven by the desire to achieve particular embodied experiences not attainable by using either drug individually. We identified three distinct practices of goofball use: 1) to alter or enhance the effects of opioids; 2) to alter or enhance the effects of methamphetamines; and 3) to balance out the effects of both drugs. CONCLUSION Our study fills an important gap in the polysubstance use literature specifically exploring the co-injection of methamphetamines and opioids. Our findings highlight the need to implement and expand interventions and services attentive to polysubstance use and the role of pleasure in drug taking practices, including expanding non-medicalized opioid and stimulant safer supply initiatives across North America.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Ivsins
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, St. Paul's Hospital, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada.
| | - Taylor Fleming
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9, Canada; Interdisciplinary Studies Graduate Program, University of British Columbia, 270-2357 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada
| | - Allison Barker
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, St. Paul's Hospital, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada
| | - Manal Mansoor
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, St. Paul's Hospital, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada
| | - Kinna Thakarar
- Maine Medical Center/Tufts University School of Medicine. 41 Donald B Dean Drive, South Portland ME 04106, United States
| | - Kimberly Sue
- School of Medicine, Yale University, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06510, United States
| | - Ryan McNeil
- British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2A9, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, St. Paul's Hospital, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Y6, Canada; School of Medicine, Yale University, 333 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT 06510, United States
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10
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Bettano A, Del Pozo B, Bernson D, Barocas JA. Stimulant-related incident surveillance using emergency medical service records in Massachusetts, 2013-2020. Drug Alcohol Depend 2022; 235:109460. [PMID: 35468556 PMCID: PMC9106899 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2022.109460] [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: 01/28/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 04/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND As stimulant use increases across the United States, emergency medical services (EMS) are crucial touchpoints in the health care system. To better measure the prevalence of stimulant use, misuse, and EMS incidents related to stimulant intoxication, definitions for stimulant-related incidents (SRIs) are needed. METHODS We used the Massachusetts Ambulance Trip Record Information System (MATRIS) from 2013 to 2020 to develop definitions of stimulant-related incidents. EMS runs reported to MATRIS were categorized based on stimulant-related words and symptoms. The three tiers were "any stimulant use" (class 1), "problematic stimulant use" (class 2), and "acute stimulant-related incidents" (class 3). A group of four reviewers studied over 650 cases in eight rounds to refine the search terms, achieving definitions with a correct characterization of over 80% of cases that the code selected. RESULTS SRI definitions were applied against all EMS runs within Massachusetts between 2013 and 2020 (n = 6,584,836 runs). Of these, 43,538 (0.7%) met the class 1 definition, 38,669 (0.6%) met the class 2 definition, and 19,157 (0.3%) met the class 3 definition. Incidents at all tiers of severity increased over time and were more likely to occur among younger adults and males. Race and ethnicity data indicated that Hispanic/Latinx and Black non-Hispanic/non-Latinx residents formed a disproportionately large percentage of SRIs relative to their total percentage of EMS runs. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of all three tiers of SRIs are increasing in Massachusetts, and this protocol provides a source of administrative data on stimulant use that complements sources such as hospital, treatment-based, and/or prescribing records.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Bettano
- Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Office of Population Health, 250 Washington St, 6th Floor, Boston, MA 02108, USA.
| | - Brandon Del Pozo
- Miriam Hospital/The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Division of Infectious Diseases, 164 Summit Avenue, Providence, RI 02906, USA.
| | - Dana Bernson
- Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Office of Population Health, 250 Washington St, 6th Floor, Boston, MA 02108, USA.
| | - Joshua A Barocas
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Divisions of General Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, 12700 East 19th Avenue, Mail Stop B168, Aurora, CO 80045, USA.
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11
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Lukac CD, Steinberg A, Papamihali K, Mehta A, Lock K, Buxton JA. Correlates of concurrent use of stimulants and opioids among people who access harm reduction services in British Columbia, Canada: Findings from the 2019 Harm Reduction Client Survey. THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY 2022; 102:103602. [DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2022.103602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/22/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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12
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Lin CC, Weng TI, Ng CJ, Shih CP, Hsu J, Liao YC, Yang CC, Fang CC. Emergency department visits due to new psychoactive substances and other illicit drugs in Taiwan: preliminary results of the Taiwan Emergency Department Drug Abuse Surveillance (TEDAS) project. Clin Toxicol (Phila) 2022; 60:708-715. [PMID: 35315299 DOI: 10.1080/15563650.2022.2038793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The use of new psychoactive substances (NPSs) has markedly increased worldwide; thus, it is important to monitor NPS-related effects. The Taiwan Emergency Department Drug Abuse Surveillance (TEDAS) project aims to assess the patterns of recreational drug use in patients presenting to emergency departments (EDs) across the country. Here, we report the preliminary results of this project. METHODS This observational study included the collection and analysis of urine samples and assessment of the clinical presentation of patients from 79 EDs across Taiwan. Clinical features were recorded through a questionnaire filled by attending doctors or nurses who collected urine samples for clinical diagnosis. Urine samples were analyzed for 110 drugs and metabolites using electrospray ionization liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). RESULTS Between February and November 2019, a total of 2649 patients were enrolled for urine drug analysis. A total of 675 cases older than 12 years (males, n = 480) had NPS or other illicit drugs detected in their urine samples. Overall, 1271 counts of drugs, among which 717 (56.4%) were NPS. At least one NPS was detected in 340 patients (50.4%), and 292 cases were positive for multiple drugs. The most frequently detected drug was methamphetamine/amphetamine, followed by synthetic cathinones, ketamine and its two analogs, and opioids. The most common drug combination was cathinones plus ketamine and/or its analogs (n = 56). Younger patients (OR = 3.3, p≤.0001) and women (OR = 1.5, p = .01) were more likely to have NPS detected in their urine samples. NPS-positive cases frequently experienced chest pain (OR = 2.6, p = .03), tachycardia (OR = 2.6, p = .0002), and suicide attempt/non-suicidal self-harm (OR = 1.8, p = .004), whereas depressed consciousness (OR = 0.5, p = .001) was less frequent among NPS-positive cases than among other illicit drug-positive cases. CONCLUSIONS The TEDAS project provides a nationwide epidemiological profile of recreational drug use in Taiwan. More than half of the recreational drugs were NPSs, which were comprehensively detected using LC-MS/MS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chih-Chuan Lin
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, ROC
| | - Te-I Weng
- Department of Emergency Medicine, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, and National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, ROC.,Forensic and Clinical Toxicology Center, College of Medicine and National Taiwan University Hospital, National Taiwan University, Taipei, ROC.,Department of Forensic Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, ROC
| | - Chip-Jin Ng
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, ROC
| | - Chia-Pang Shih
- Department of Nursing, Yuanpei University of Medical Technology, Hsin-Chu, ROC
| | - Jui Hsu
- Division of Controlled Drugs, Taiwan Food and Drug Administration, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taipei, ROC
| | - Yuan-Chun Liao
- Division of Controlled Drugs, Taiwan Food and Drug Administration, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taipei, ROC
| | - Chen-Chang Yang
- Institute of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, ROC.,Division of Clinical Toxicology & Occupational Medicine, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, ROC
| | - Cheng-Chung Fang
- Department of Emergency Medicine, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, and National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, ROC.,Forensic and Clinical Toxicology Center, College of Medicine and National Taiwan University Hospital, National Taiwan University, Taipei, ROC
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13
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Care-engaged individuals with polysubstance use in Northeastern US are undertreated for methamphetamine use disorder: a retrospective cohort study. Addict Sci Clin Pract 2021; 16:57. [PMID: 34565489 PMCID: PMC8474730 DOI: 10.1186/s13722-021-00267-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Stimulant use has increased across the US, with concomitant opioid and methamphetamine use doubling between 2011 and 2017. Shifting patterns of polysubstance use have led to rising psychostimulant-involved deaths. While it is known that individuals who use methamphetamine require greater access to treatment, there is still little known about methamphetamine use and treatment among individuals who are already engaged in outpatient substance use treatment. OBJECTIVES To characterize care-engaged individuals who use methamphetamine to guide harm reduction and treatment strategies. METHODS Retrospective cohort study of individuals at a large academic medical center in Massachusetts with ≥ 2 positive methamphetamine oral fluid toxicology tests between August 2019 and January 2020. We performed descriptive analysis of sociodemographic, medical, and drug use characteristics and a comparative analysis of injection methamphetamine use versus other routes of use. RESULTS Included were 71 individuals [56 male (80%), 66 non-Hispanic white (94%), median age 36 (IQR 30-42)]. Nearly all had opioid (94%) and stimulant use disorder (92%). Most had (93%) or were (83%) being treated with medications for opioid use disorder, but few received pharmacologic treatment for methamphetamine use disorder (24%). None received contingency management treatment. People who inject methamphetamine (68%) were more likely to have a history of overdose (91% vs. 70%; p = 0.02), have HCV (94% vs. 52%; p < 0.01), use fentanyl (93% vs. 65%; p = 0.02), and engage in sex work (19% vs. 0%; p = 0.03) compared to those who used via other routes. Both groups had prevalent homelessness (88% vs. 73%; p = 0.15), incarceration (81% vs. 64%; p = 0.11), depression (94% vs. 87%; p = 0.34), and bacteremia (27% vs. 22%; p = 0.63). CONCLUSIONS Individuals in our study had high prevalence of polysubstance use, particularly concomitant methamphetamine and opioid use. Individuals who were well connected to substance use treatment for their opioid use were still likely to be undertreated for their methamphetamine use disorder and would benefit from greater access to contingency management treatment, harm reduction resources, and resources to address adverse social determinants of health.
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14
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Fischer B, O’Keefe-Markman C, Lee A(MH, Daldegan-Bueno D. 'Resurgent', 'twin' or 'silent' epidemic? A select data overview and observations on increasing psycho-stimulant use and harms in North America. Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy 2021; 16:17. [PMID: 33588896 PMCID: PMC7883758 DOI: 10.1186/s13011-021-00350-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
In the early 2000s, increasing prevalence of psycho-stimulant (e.g., crack/cocaine, methamphetamine) use and related harms, including severe adverse health outcomes, was observed among - mostly marginalized - populations of persons using illicit drugs in North America, underscoring an urgent need for interventions options towards improved prevention and treatment. By about 2010, however, the 'opioid crisis', featuring unprecedented use and public health burden, had accelerated into full force in North America, largely muting attention to the psycho-stimulant issue until recently. Recent surveillance data on drug use and related mortality/morbidity from the present decade has documented a marked resurgence of psycho-stimulant use and harms especially in at-risk populations, commonly in direct combination with opioids, across North America, resulting in a 'twin epidemic' comprised of opioids and psycho-stimulants We briefly review select epidemiological data indicators for these developments from the United States and Canada; in the latter jurisdiction, related evidence has been less prevalent and systematic but corroborating the same trends. Evidently, the (widely ongoing) focus on the 'opioid epidemic' as a 'mono-type' drug problem has become an anachronism that requires urgent and appropriate correction. We then briefly consider existing, evidence-based options for - prevention and treatment - interventions targeting psycho-stimulant use and harms, which are substantially more limited and/or less efficacious than those available for problematic opioid use, while presenting major gaps and challenges. The observed resurgence of psycho-stimulants may, indirectly, relate to recent efforts towards curtailing (medical) opioid availability, thereby accelerating demand and supply for both illicit opioids and psycho-stimulants. The presently unfolding 'twin epidemic' of opioids and psycho-stimulants, combined with limited intervention resources, presents an acute challenge for public health and may crucially undermine actively extensive efforts to reduce opioid-related health harms in North America.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedikt Fischer
- Schools of Population Health and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, 85 Park Rd, Grafton, Auckland, 1023 New Zealand
- Centre for Applied Research in Mental Health and Addiction, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 515 W. Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 5K3 Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, 250 College Street, 8th floor, Toronto, M5T 1R8 Canada
- Department of Psychiatry, Federal University of São Paulo, R. Dr. Ovídio Pires de Campos, 785, São Paulo, SP 05403-903 Brazil
| | - Caroline O’Keefe-Markman
- Centre for Applied Research in Mental Health and Addiction, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 515 W. Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 5K3 Canada
| | - Angelica (Min-Hye) Lee
- Centre for Applied Research in Mental Health and Addiction, Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, 515 W. Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 5K3 Canada
| | - Dimitri Daldegan-Bueno
- Schools of Population Health and Pharmacy, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, 85 Park Rd, Grafton, Auckland, 1023 New Zealand
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15
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Macias-Konstantopoulos W, Heins A, Sachs CJ, Whiteman PJ, Wingkun NJG, Riviello RJ. Between Emergency Department Visits: The Role of Harm Reduction Programs in Mitigating the Harms Associated With Injection Drug Use. Ann Emerg Med 2021; 77:479-492. [PMID: 33579588 DOI: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2020.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2019] [Revised: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Injection drug use is a major public health problem in the United States. Cocaine, heroin, and methamphetamine are the most commonly injected illicit drugs, whereas opioids are responsible for the majority of overdose fatalities. Although recent emergency department (ED) efforts have focused on expanding capacity for buprenorphine induction for opioid use disorder treatment, the injection of illicit drugs carries specific health risks that require acknowledgment and management, particularly for patients who decline substance use treatment. Harm reduction is a public health approach that aims to reduce the harms associated with a health risk behavior, short of eliminating the behavior itself. Harm-reduction strategies fundamental to emergency medicine include naloxone distribution for opioid overdose. This clinical Review Article examines the specific health complications of injection drug use and reviews the evidence base for 2 interventions effective in reducing morbidity and mortality related to drug injection, irrespective of the specific drug used, that are less well known and infrequently leveraged by emergency medicine clinicians: syringe service programs and supervised injection facilities. In accordance with the recommendations of health authorities such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, emergency clinicians can promote the use of harm-reduction programs in the community to reduce viral transmission and other risks of injection drug use by providing patients with information about and referrals to these programs after injection drug use-related ED visits.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alan Heins
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of South Alabama College of Medicine, Mobile, AL
| | - Carolyn J Sachs
- David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Paula J Whiteman
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Neil-Jeremy G Wingkun
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX
| | - Ralph J Riviello
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
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Cano M, Huang Y. Overdose deaths involving psychostimulants with abuse potential, excluding cocaine: State-level differences and the role of opioids. Drug Alcohol Depend 2021; 218:108384. [PMID: 33158665 DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2020.108384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Revised: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Over the course of the past decade, psychostimulants such as methamphetamines have been increasingly reported in overdose deaths in the United States (US). Methamphetamine use has recently risen among individuals who use opioids, yet it is unclear what role the opioid crisis has played in the increase in psychostimulant-involved overdose mortality in states across the US. METHODS Mortality data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were used to examine recent state-level changes in overdose deaths involving psychostimulants with abuse potential, excluding cocaine. Psychostimulant-involved overdose mortality rates, changes in rates, and opioid co-involvement were compared by state and plotted on choropleth maps. Ordinary least squares regression analyses were used to test the associations between a state's psychostimulant-involved overdose mortality rate change and several state-level indicators related to the opioid crisis. RESULTS From 2015/2016-2017/2018, significant increases in psychostimulant-involved overdose mortality rates were observed in 42 of 47 states with data available. Each of the three state-level indicators examined in the study (opioid prescribing rate in 2012, past-year prevalence of opioid use disorder from 2015-2018, and increase in drug overdose mortality during the earliest stages of the opioid crisis from 1999-2012) was positively associated with the absolute rate change in psychostimulant-involved overdose mortality from 2015/2016-2017/2018. CONCLUSIONS Although deaths involving methamphetamine have historically been primarily concentrated in the western US, results of the study reflect the alarming increase in psychostimulant-involved overdose mortality across the nation, especially in some of the states heavily impacted by the opioid crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Cano
- Department of Social Work, University of Texas at San Antonio, 501 W. César E. Chávez Blvd., San Antonio, TX, 78207, USA.
| | - Ying Huang
- Department of Demography, University of Texas at San Antonio, 301 South Frio Street, San Antonio, TX, 78207, USA
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