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Turner R, Barrett D, Petersson F, Kåberg M. Legal Minors Who Inject: Differences in Socio-Demographics and Treatment Needs Compared to Adults in a Swedish National Sample of People with Injecting Drug Use. Subst Use Misuse 2023; 58:1473-1482. [PMID: 37358188 DOI: 10.1080/10826084.2023.2223267] [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] [Indexed: 06/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Injection drug use among legal minors is under-researched. Although the population may be small in absolute terms, treatment needs may be greater than for those who began injecting as adults. Such knowledge may help tailor services more effectively. Previous research tends to use selective samples or focuses solely on medical indicators. The present study uses a larger sample drawn from national register data in Sweden over a 9-year period (2013-2021) to analyze differences in medical and social treatment needs between people who began injecting as legal minors and their older counterparts. METHOD Data on first-time visitors to needle and syringe programmes (n = 8225, mean age 37.6, 26% women) were used. Historical socio-demographics and presenting treatment needs were compared between those with a debut injecting age under 18, and those who began injecting as adults. RESULTS The prevalence of injecting before 18 years was 29%. This group had more negative social circumstances, such as leaving school early, worse health, and greater service consumption, compared to those who began injecting as adults. In particular, they had been subjected to a greater level of control measures, such as arrest and compulsory care. CONCLUSIONS The present study shows that there are important health and social differences between those who inject prior to 18 and those who begin injecting as adults. This raises important questions for both child protection services and harm reduction approaches for legal minors who inject, who still qualify as 'children' in a legal and policy sense.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Turner
- Department of Social Work, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - D Barrett
- School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - F Petersson
- Department of Social Work, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - M Kåberg
- Stockholm Needle Exchange, Stockholm Centre for Dependency Disorders, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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Guarino H, Frank D, Quinn K, Kim D, Gile K, Ruggles K, Friedman SR, Mateu-Gelabert P. Syndemic factors associated with non-fatal overdose among young opioid users in New York City. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1195657. [PMID: 37435512 PMCID: PMC10332320 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1195657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Rates of illicit opioid use are particularly high among young adults, yet research on overdose experience and factors associated with overdose in this population remains limited. This study examines the experiences and correlates of non-fatal overdose among young adults using illicit opioids in New York City (NYC). Methods 539 participants were recruited via Respondent-Driven Sampling in 2014-2016. Eligibility criteria included: aged 18-29 years old; current residence in NYC; and nonmedical prescription opioid (PO) use and/or heroin use in the past 30 days. Participants completed structured interviews to assess their socio-demographics, drug use trajectories, current substance use and lifetime and most recent overdose experiences, and were tested on-site for hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies. Results 43.9% of participants reported lifetime overdose experience; of these, 58.8% had experienced two or more overdose events. The majority of participants' most recent overdoses (63.5%) were due to polysubstance use. In bivariable analyses, after RDS adjustment, having ever overdosed was correlated with: household income of >$100,00 growing up (vs. $51,000-100,000); lifetime homelessness; HCV antibody-positive status; lifetime engagement in regular nonmedical benzodiazepine use, regular heroin injection and regular PO injection; and using a non-sterile syringe in the past 12 months. Multivariable logistic regression identified childhood household income >$100,00 (AOR=1.88), HCV-positive status (AOR=2.64), benzodiazepine use (AOR=2.15), PO injection (AOR=1.96) and non-sterile syringe use (AOR=1.70) as significant independent correlates of lifetime overdose. A multivariable model with multiple overdoses (vs. one) found only lifetime regular heroin use and PO injection to be strong correlates. Discussion Results indicate a high prevalence of lifetime and repeated overdose among opioid-using young adults in NYC, highlighting a need for intensified overdose prevention efforts for this population. The strong associations of HCV and indices of polydrug use with overdose suggest that prevention efforts should address the complex risk environment in which overdose occurs, attending to the overlapping nature of disease-related risk behavior and overdose risk behavior among young people who inject opioids. Overdose prevention efforts tailored for this group may find it useful to adopt a syndemic conception of overdose that understands such events as resulting from multiple, and often interrelated, risk factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Honoria Guarino
- Institute for Implementation Science in Population Health, CUNY Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy, New York, NY, United States
| | - David Frank
- Behavioral Science Training Program in Drug Abuse Research, NYU Rory Myers College of Nursing, New York University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Kelly Quinn
- Behavioral Science Training Program in Drug Abuse Research, NYU Rory Myers College of Nursing, New York University, New York, NY, United States
- Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Dongah Kim
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, United States
| | - Krista Gile
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, United States
| | - Kelly Ruggles
- Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Samuel R. Friedman
- Department of Population Health, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Pedro Mateu-Gelabert
- Institute for Implementation Science in Population Health, CUNY Graduate School of Public Health & Health Policy, New York, NY, United States
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Mateu-Gelabert P, Sabounchi NS, Guarino H, Ciervo C, Joseph K, Eckhardt BJ, Fong C, Kapadia SN, Huang TTK. Hepatitis C virus risk among young people who inject drugs. Front Public Health 2022; 10:835836. [PMID: 35968435 PMCID: PMC9372473 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.835836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Injection drug use (IDU) is the leading risk factor for hepatitis C virus (HCV) transmission in the U.S. While the general risk factors for HCV transmission are known, there is limited work on how these factors interact and impact young people who inject drugs (YPWID). Methods Project data were drawn from a study of 539 New York City (NYC) residents ages 18-29 who were recruited via Respondent-Driven Sampling and, reported past-month non-medical use of prescription opioids and/or heroin. Analyses are based on a subsample of 337 (62%) who reported injecting any drug in the past 12 months. All variables were assessed via self-report, except HCV status, which was established via rapid antibody testing. Integrating the observed statistical associations with extant literature on HCV risk, we also developed a qualitative system dynamics (SD) model to use as a supplemental data visualization tool to explore plausible pathways and interactions among key risk and protective factors for HCV. Results Results showed a 31% HCV antibody prevalence with an overall incidence of 10 per 100 person-years. HCV status was independently correlated with having shared cookers with two or more people (AOR = 2.17); injected drugs 4–6 years (AOR = 2.49) and 7 or more years (AOR = 4.95); lifetime homelessness (AOR = 2.52); and having been incarcerated two or more times (AOR = 1.99). These outcomes along with the extant literature on HCV risk were used to develop the qualitative SD model, which describes a causal hypothesis around non-linearities and feedback loop structures underlying the spread of HCV among YPWID. Conclusions Despite ongoing harm reduction efforts, close to a third of YPWID in the community sample have been exposed to HCV, have risks for injection drug use, and face challenges with structural factors that may be preventing adequate intervention. The qualitative SD model explores these issues and contributes to a better understanding of how these various risk factors interact and what policies could potentially be effective in reducing HCV infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Mateu-Gelabert
- Department of Community Health and Social Sciences, CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, Institute for Implementation Science in Population Health (ISPH), New York, NY, United States
- *Correspondence: Pedro Mateu-Gelabert
| | - Nasim S. Sabounchi
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Center for Systems and Community Design (CSCD), CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, New York, NY, United States
| | - Honoria Guarino
- Department of Community Health and Social Sciences, CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, Institute for Implementation Science in Population Health (ISPH), New York, NY, United States
| | - Courtney Ciervo
- Department of Community Health and Social Sciences, CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, Institute for Implementation Science in Population Health (ISPH), New York, NY, United States
| | - Kellie Joseph
- Department of Community Health and Social Sciences, CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, Institute for Implementation Science in Population Health (ISPH), New York, NY, United States
| | | | - Chunki Fong
- Department of Community Health and Social Sciences, CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, Institute for Implementation Science in Population Health (ISPH), New York, NY, United States
| | - Shashi N. Kapadia
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Terry T. K. Huang
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Center for Systems and Community Design (CSCD), CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, New York, NY, United States
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Zangani C, Ostinelli EG, Giordano B, D’Agostino A, Martinotti G, Clerici M, Gambini O, Schifano F. Knowledge and Use of Novel Psychoactive Substances in Italy: a Survey-Based Study in the General Population. Int J Ment Health Addict 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s11469-021-00683-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
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Brown B, Ruggles KV, Le FT, Rajan S. Drug Transaction Experiences in American High Schools 2001-2015. THE JOURNAL OF SCHOOL HEALTH 2021; 91:204-211. [PMID: 33438219 DOI: 10.1111/josh.12998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Among adolescents, the pathway from being offered drugs to engaging in drug use has been established. The prevalence of drug transactions specifically in schools is less understood. The purpose of this study was to identify the prevalence of adolescents who have reported drug transaction experiences (being offered, sold, or given an illegal drug) on school property and subsequently identify behavioral correlates associated with these experiences. METHODS This study analyzed YRBS data from 2001 to 2015 (N = 117,815). We used 95% confidence intervals to evaluate differences in prevalence across years and demographic subgroups. Odds ratios determined the likelihood of engaging in risk behaviors among those youth also experiencing drug transactions on school property. RESULTS Every survey year, at least 1 in 5 youth reported having drug transaction experiences at school. Boys consistently reported significantly higher rates of drug transaction experiences in comparison to girls, with Hispanic boys representing the highest rates. Youth reporting these experiences with drug transactions were also more likely to carry a weapon to school and to be bullied at school. CONCLUSIONS Implications for the reduction of drug transactions in high schools are discussed and recommendations for prevention efforts addressing youth engagement in multiple risk behaviors are identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brande Brown
- , New York Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, 506 6th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11215
| | - Kelly V Ruggles
- , New York University School of Medicine, Department of Population Health, 550 First Avenue, 627A, New York, NY 10016
| | - Francesca T Le
- , New York Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, 506 6th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11215
| | - Sonali Rajan
- , Teachers College, Columbia University, Department of Health and Behavior Studies and Mailman School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology, 525 West 120th Street, New York, NY 10027
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State-level prescription drug monitoring program mandates and adolescent injection drug use in the United States, 1995-2017: A difference-in-differences analysis. PLoS Med 2020; 17:e1003272. [PMID: 32976539 PMCID: PMC7518580 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1003272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prescription opioid misuse is an ongoing crisis and a risk factor for injection drug use (IDU). Few studies have evaluated strategies for preventing opioid or IDU initiation among adolescents. We evaluated changes in the proportion of adolescents reporting IDU before and after prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) mandates were implemented in 18 states compared to 29 states without such mandates. METHODS AND FINDINGS This difference-in-differences analysis used biannual Youth Risk Behavioral Surveillance System (YRBSS) data representative of adolescents 17 to 18 years old across 47 states from 1995 to 2017. We compared changes in adolescent IDU in 18 states with and 29 states without PDMP mandates. Among 331,025 adolescents, 51.7% identified as male, 62.1% as non-Hispanic white, 17.4% as non-Hispanic black, and 14.6% as Hispanic. Overall, 3.5% reported IDU during the 2 years prior to PDMP mandates. In the final multivariable difference-in-differences model, we included individual age, sex, and race/ethnicity, as well as state and year as covariates from the YRBSS. We also included state- and year-specific poverty rates based on US Census Bureau data. Additionally, we controlled for state implementation of (non-mandated) PDMPs before states subsequently implemented mandates and pill mill laws. We conducted several sensitivity analyses, including repeating our main analysis using a logistic, rather than linear, model, and with a lead indicator on PDMP mandate implementation, a lag indicator, and alternative policy implementation dates. PDMP mandates were associated with a 1.5 percentage point reduction (95% CI -2.3 to -0.6 percentage points; p = 0.001) in adolescent IDU, on average over the years following mandate implementation, a relative reduction of 42.9% (95% CI -65.7% to -17.1%). The association of PDMP mandates with this reduction persisted at least 4 years beyond implementation. Sensitivity analyses were consistent with the main results. Limitations include the multi-stepped causal pathway from PDMP mandate implementation to changes in IDU and the potential for omitted state-level time-varying confounders. CONCLUSIONS Our analysis indicated that PDMP mandates were associated with a reduction in adolescent IDU, providing empirical evidence that such mandates may prevent adolescents from initiating IDU. Policymakers might consider PDMP mandates as a potential strategy for preventing adolescent IDU.
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Bohm MK, Clayton HB. Nonmedical Use of Prescription Opioids, Heroin Use, Injection Drug Use, and Overdose Mortality in U.S. Adolescents. J Stud Alcohol Drugs 2020; 81:484-488. [PMID: 32800085 PMCID: PMC7437549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2019] [Accepted: 02/19/2020] [Indexed: 03/30/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We assessed overdose mortality by opioid types involved as well as interrelationships between nonmedical use of prescription opioids (NUPO) and heroin and injection drug use (IDU) among adolescents. METHOD We examined 2010 and 2016 overdose data by drug type for decedents in the United States ages 15-19 years from the Multiple Cause of Death Files. We also analyzed data from the 2017 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey, a nationally representative survey of high school students. We assessed lifetime NUPO and calculated heroin use and IDU by frequency of lifetime NUPO. Adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) were generated, and linear contrast analysis determined dose-response relationships between frequency of lifetime NUPO and the two outcomes. RESULTS The percentage of deaths involving prescription opioids that also involved illicit opioids such as heroin or fentanyl was 5.5% in 2010 and 25.0% in 2016. We observed a positive dose-response relationship with frequency of lifetime NUPO; aPRs were highest for 20 or more times of NUPO and heroin use (aPR = 49.49, 95% CI [33.39, 73.34]) and IDU (aPR = 44.37, 95% CI [23.16, 84.99]). However, aPRs for heroin and IDU were high even among those reporting just one or two occasions of NUPO (aPRs = 9.25, 95% CI [5.90, 14.49] and 6.63, 95% CI [3.99, 11.02], respectively). CONCLUSIONS Adolescent prescription opioid overdose deaths now frequently involve illicit opioids. Heroin use and IDU are higher among students reporting even a few instances of NUPO, indicating that students with any NUPO are an important risk group. Clinical, community, and school-based efforts can address NUPO, noting these associations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele K. Bohm
- Division of Population Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Heather B. Clayton
- Division of Adolescent and School Health, National Center for HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
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Schneider KE, Webb L, Boon D, Johnson RM. Adolescent Anabolic-Androgenic Steroid Use in Association with Other Drug Use, Injection Drug Use, and Team Sport Participation. JOURNAL OF CHILD & ADOLESCENT SUBSTANCE ABUSE 2020; 29:246-251. [PMID: 36540327 PMCID: PMC9762502 DOI: 10.1080/1067828x.2022.2052219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Introduction The majority of epidemiologic research on adolescent non-medical anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) use was conducted in the 1990s and early 2000s, indicating a need to update evidence for the modern era. We aim to understand the prevalence of AAS use among US adolescents and assess associations between AAS use, sports participation, other drug use, and injection drug use (IDU). Methods Using data from the 2017 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey, we estimated the prevalence of AAS use and tested for associations between AAS use, sports participation, and drug use, overall and by sex. Results The prevalence of AAS use was 2.98%. The prevalence among boys (3.46%) was higher than among girls (2.41%). AAS use was high among youth with lifetime heroin use (64.41%) and IDU (64.42%). There was no association between AAS and team sport participation (p=0.61). Conclusions Our results indicate that adolescent AAS use is an aspect of polysubstance use rather than a substance used solely for performance enhancement in sports. Research with adolescents should be mindful of the overlap of heroin and AAS use among youth with IDU.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lindsey Webb
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Denali Boon
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Renee M Johnson
- Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Kapadia SN, Bao Y. Prescription painkiller misuse and the perceived risk of harm from using heroin. Addict Behav 2019; 93:141-145. [PMID: 30711666 DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2019.01.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2018] [Revised: 12/30/2018] [Accepted: 01/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prescription opioid pain reliever misuse is associated with initiation of heroin use. The perceived risk of harm from substance use is a key factor in initiation. We hypothesized that prescription pain reliever misuse is associated with a lower perceived risk of harm from trying heroin and from regular use. METHODS Using the 2015-6 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), we evaluated the perceived risk of trying and regularly using heroin among heroin never-users. We estimated logistic regressions to assess the association between past-year prescription pain reliever misuse with the perceived risk of heroin initiation and regular use, adjusting for potential confounders. RESULTS The sample contained 84,312 adults and 27,814 adolescents. Four percent of adults and 3.7% of adolescents reported past-year prescription pain reliever misuse. 87.9% of adults and 65.9% of adolescents perceived trying heroin as a great risk. Pain reliever misuse was associated with a significantly lower odds of perceiving great risk of harm from trying heroin (adults: AOR = 0.760, 95%CI 0.614-0.941, p = 0.013; adolescents: AOR = 0.817, 95%CI 0.672-0.993, p = 0.042). Both age groups were more likely to report perceiving regular heroin use as a great risk of harm compared to trying heroin once or twice, but only adults showed significant association with of pain reliever misuse. (AOR = 0.539 95%CI 0.390-0.744, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Past-year prescription pain reliever misuse was associated with lower perceived risk of harm from heroin initiation and regular use. Further understanding of risk perception and the association with heroin initiation might inform development of primary prevention interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shashi N Kapadia
- Departments of Medicine and Healthcare Policy and Research, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Ave, Rm A-421, New York, NY 10065, USA.
| | - Yuhua Bao
- Department of Healthcare Policy and Research, Weill Cornell Medicine, 425 E 61st Street, New York, NY 10065, USA.
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