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The International Journal on Drug Policy Apr 2024Comorbid substance use disorders (SUDs) among people with opioid use disorder (OUD) contribute to poor clinical outcomes, including overdose and mortality. We present... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND
Comorbid substance use disorders (SUDs) among people with opioid use disorder (OUD) contribute to poor clinical outcomes, including overdose and mortality. We present the first systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate the prevalence of specific non-opioid SUDs among people with OUD.
METHODS
We searched Embase, PsycINFO, and MEDLINE from 1990 to 2022 for studies that used Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) or International Classification of Diseases (ICD) criteria to assess the prevalence of non-opioid SUDs among individuals with OUD. We used random-effects meta-analyses with 95% Confidence Intervals (CIs) to pool current and lifetime prevalence estimates separately. Meta-regressions and stratified meta-analyses were used to examine differences in prevalence estimates by sample characteristics and methodological factors.
RESULTS
Of the 36,971 publications identified, we included data from 194 studies and 77,212 participants with OUD. The prevalence of any comorbid SUD among people with OUD was 59.5% (95%CI 49.1-69.5%) for current non-opioid SUDs, with 72.0% (95%CI 52.5-87.9%) experiencing a comorbid SUD in their lifetime. Of the studies that examined current comorbid SUDs, cocaine use disorder (30.5%, 95%CI 23.0-38.7%) was most common, followed by alcohol (27.1%, 95%CI 24.4- 30.0%), cannabis (22.7%, 95%CI 19.0-26.6%), sedative (16.1%, 95%CI 13.1-19.3%), and methamphetamine (11.4%, 95%CI 6.8-17.1%) use disorders. Substantial heterogeneity (I>90%) across estimates was observed. Substantial heterogeneity (I2>90%) was observed across estimates, with significant variations in prevalence identified across geographic locations, recruitment settings, and other study-level factors.
CONCLUSION
Findings from this study emphasize the importance of comorbid SUD treatment access for people with OUD. Our estimates can inform the provision of treatment and harm reduction strategies for people with OUD and specific subpopulations.
PubMed: 38677160
DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2024.104434 -
Frontiers in Artificial Intelligence 2024Public health policy researchers face a persistent challenge in identifying and integrating relevant data, particularly in the context of the U.S. opioid crisis, where a...
BACKGROUND
Public health policy researchers face a persistent challenge in identifying and integrating relevant data, particularly in the context of the U.S. opioid crisis, where a comprehensive approach is crucial.
PURPOSE
To meet this new workforce demand health policy and health economics programs are increasingly introducing data analysis and data visualization skills. Such skills facilitate data integration and discovery by linking multiple resources. Common linking strategies include individual or aggregate level linking (e.g., patient identifiers) in primary clinical data and conceptual linking (e.g., healthcare workforce, state funding, burnout rates) in secondary data. Often, the combination of primary and secondary datasets is sought, requiring additional skills, for example, understanding metadata and constructing interlinkages.
METHODS
To help improve those skills, we developed a 2-step process using a scoping method to discover data and network visualization to interlink metadata. Results: We show how these new skills enable the discovery of relationships among data sources pertinent to public policy research related to the opioid overdose crisis and facilitate inquiry across heterogeneous data resources. In addition, our interactive network visualization introduces (1) a conceptual approach, drawing from recent systematic review studies and linked by the publications, and (2) an aggregate approach, constructed using publicly available datasets and linked through crosswalks.
CONCLUSIONS
These novel metadata visualization techniques can be used as a teaching tool or a discovery method and can also be extended to other public policy domains.
PubMed: 38646414
DOI: 10.3389/frai.2024.1208874 -
Harm Reduction Journal Apr 2024Psychological and social status, and environmental context, may mediate the likelihood of experiencing overdose subsequent to illicit drug use. The aim of this... (Review)
Review
BACKGROUND AND AIMS
Psychological and social status, and environmental context, may mediate the likelihood of experiencing overdose subsequent to illicit drug use. The aim of this systematic review was to identify and synthesise psychosocial factors associated with overdose among people who use drugs.
METHODS
This review was registered on Prospero (CRD42021242495). Systematic record searches were undertaken in databases of peer-reviewed literature (Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, and Cinahl) and grey literature sources (Google Scholar) for work published up to and including 14 February 2023. Reference lists of selected full-text papers were searched for additional records. Studies were eligible if they included people who use drugs with a focus on relationships between psychosocial factors and overdose subsequent to illicit drug use. Results were tabulated and narratively synthesised.
RESULTS
Twenty-six studies were included in the review, with 150,625 participants: of those 3,383-4072 (3%) experienced overdose. Twenty-one (81%) studies were conducted in North America and 23 (89%) reported polydrug use. Psychosocial factors associated with risk of overdose (n = 103) were identified and thematically organised into ten groups. These were: income; housing instability; incarceration; traumatic experiences; overdose risk perception and past experience; healthcare experiences; perception of own drug use and injecting skills; injecting setting; conditions with physical environment; and social network traits.
CONCLUSIONS
Global rates of overdose continue to increase, and many guidelines recommend psychosocial interventions for dependent drug use. The factors identified here provide useful targets for practitioners to focus on at the individual level, but many identified will require wider policy changes to affect positive change. Future research should seek to develop and trial interventions targeting factors identified, whilst advocacy for key policy reforms to reduce harm must continue.
Topics: Humans; Substance-Related Disorders; Drug Overdose; Housing; Illicit Drugs; North America
PubMed: 38622647
DOI: 10.1186/s12954-024-00999-8 -
Medicine Mar 2024Local anesthetic systemic toxicity (LAST) is rare, but fatal; the current widely used treatment is lipid emulsion (LE). The goal of this study was to analyze and review...
BACKGROUND
Local anesthetic systemic toxicity (LAST) is rare, but fatal; the current widely used treatment is lipid emulsion (LE). The goal of this study was to analyze and review case reports on LE treatment for LAST in pediatric patients.
METHODS
We performed a systematic review using case reports on LE treatment for LAST in pediatric patients, searching PubMed and Scopus databases to March 2023 using the following keywords: ("local anesthetic toxicity" OR "local anesthetic systemic toxicity" OR LAST") AND ("newborn" OR "infant" OR "child" OR "children" OR "adolescent" OR "pediatric") AND ("lipid emulsion" OR "Intralipid").
RESULTS
Our search yielded 21 cases, revealing that nearly 43% patients with LAST were less than 1 year old, and most cases were caused by bupivacaine (approximately 67% cases). "Inadvertent intravascular injection" by anesthesiologists and "overdose of local anesthetics" mainly by surgeons were responsible for 52% and 24% cases of LAST, respectively. LAST occurred in the awake state (52%) and under general anesthesia (48%), mainly causing seizures and arrhythmia, respectively. Approximately 55% of patients received LE treatment in <10 minutes after LAST, mainly improving cardiovascular symptoms. A 20% LE (1.5 mL/kg) dose followed by 0.25 mL/kg/minutes dose was frequently used. LE and anticonvulsants were mainly used in the awake state, whereas LE with or without vasopressors was mainly used under general anesthesia. LE treatment led to full recovery from LAST in 20 cases; however, 1 patient died due to underlying disease.
CONCLUSION
Consequently, our findings reveal that LE is effective in treating pediatric LAST.
Topics: Humans; Child; Infant; Anesthetics, Local; Emulsions; Anesthesia, Local; Bupivacaine; Drug Overdose
PubMed: 38489714
DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000037534 -
Frontiers in Psychiatry 2024Fentanyl 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,...
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.
PubMed: 38414500
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1347678 -
Value in Health : the Journal of the... May 2024Overdose prevention centers (OPCs) provide a safe place where people can consume preobtained drugs under supervision so that a life-saving medical response can be... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVES
Overdose prevention centers (OPCs) provide a safe place where people can consume preobtained drugs under supervision so that a life-saving medical response can be provided quickly in the event of an overdose. OPCs are programs that are established in Canada and have recently become legally sanctioned in only a few United States jurisdictions.
METHODS
We conducted a systematic review that summarizes and identifies gaps of economic evidence on establishing OPCs in North America to guide future expansion of OPCs.
RESULTS
We included 16 final studies that were evaluated with the Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards and Drummond checklists. Eight studies reported cost-effectiveness results (eg, cost per overdose avoided or cost per quality-adjusted life-year), with 6 also including cost-benefit; 5 reported only cost-benefit results, and 3 cost offsets. Health outcomes primarily included overdose mortality outcomes or HIV/hepatitis C virus infections averted. Most studies used mathematical modeling and projected OPC outcomes using the experience of a single facility in Vancouver, BC.
CONCLUSIONS
OPCs were found to be cost-saving or to have favorable cost-effectiveness or cost-benefit ratios across all studies. Future studies should incorporate the experience of OPCs established in various settings and use a greater diversity of modeling designs.
Topics: Humans; Cost-Benefit Analysis; Opiate Overdose; North America; Quality-Adjusted Life Years; Canada
PubMed: 38401795
DOI: 10.1016/j.jval.2024.02.004 -
Cureus Jan 2024This systematic literature review aims to determine the optimal initial dose of naloxone for successful opioid overdose reversal across different administration... (Review)
Review
This systematic literature review aims to determine the optimal initial dose of naloxone for successful opioid overdose reversal across different administration routes. Types of participants included adults who have opioid overdoses and adults who are suspected to have opioid overdoses. Pregnant women, children, animals, and populations outside the US were excluded. The interventions included were intranasal (IN), intramuscular (IM), and intravenous (IV) naloxone administration. The data collected for this systematic review were studies from PubMed, CINAHL, PsyINFO, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials registers between January 2015 and July 2021. The risk of bias was assessed via the Review Manager application. Six studies met the inclusion criteria. A meaningful statistical analysis was unable to be conducted with such few studies. The studies reveal 2 mg IN as the most popular dosing for initial naloxone for successful opioid reversal. The most common route of naloxone administration for successful reversal could not be studied but most studies revealed successful initial naloxone dosing in IN equivalents. With minimal studies emerging from our review, further research is warranted in naloxone dosing for optimal opioid reversal in order to fully treat patients. Healthcare workers must be vigilant of potential withdrawal from high naloxone dosing as well as the inefficiency of lower naloxone dosing for adequate opioid overdose reversal in order to treat patients with opioid overdoses properly.
PubMed: 38380203
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.52671 -
Health and Social Care Delivery Research Jan 2024Risk assessment is a key process when a child or adolescent presents at risk for self-harm or suicide in a mental health crisis or emergency. Risk assessment by a...
BACKGROUND
Risk assessment is a key process when a child or adolescent presents at risk for self-harm or suicide in a mental health crisis or emergency. Risk assessment by a healthcare professional should be included within a biopsychosocial assessment. However, the predictive value of risk-screening tools for self-harm and suicide in children and adolescents is consistently challenged. A review is needed to explore how best to undertake risk assessment and the appropriate role for tools/checklists within the assessment pathway.
AIMS
To map research relating to risk assessment for child and adolescent mental health and to identify features that relate to a successful risk assessment.
OBJECTIVES
To review factors within the clinical encounter that impact upon risk assessments for self-harm and suicide in children and adolescents: i. to conduct a realist synthesis to understand mechanisms for risk assessment, why they occur and how they vary by context ii. to conduct a mapping review of primary studies/reviews to describe available tools of applicability to the UK.
DATA SOURCES
Databases, including MEDLINE, PsycINFO, EMBASE, CINAHL, HMIC, Science and Social Sciences Citation Index and the Cochrane Library, were searched (September 2021). Searches were also conducted for reports from websites.
REVIEW METHODS
A resource-constrained realist synthesis was conducted exploring factors that impact upon risk assessments for self-harm and suicide. This was accompanied by a mapping review of primary studies/reviews describing risk-assessment tools and approaches used in UK child and adolescent mental health. Following piloting, four reviewers screened retrieved records. Items were coded for the mapping and/or for inclusion in the realist synthesis. The review team examined the validity and limitations of risk-screening tools. In addition, the team identified structured approaches to risk assessment. Reporting of the realist synthesis followed guidelines.
RESULTS
From 4084 unique citations, 249 papers were reviewed and 41 studies (49 tools) were included in the mapping review. Eight reviews were identified following full-text screening. Fifty-seven papers were identified for the realist review. Findings highlight 14 explanations (programme theories) for a successful risk assessment for self-harm and suicide. Forty-nine individual assessment tools/approaches were identified. Few tools were developed in the UK, specifically for children and adolescents. These lacked formal independent evaluation. No risk-screening tool is suitable for risk prediction; optimal approaches incorporate a relationship of trust, involvement of the family, where appropriate, and a patient-centred holistic approach. The objective of risk assessment should be elicitation of information to direct a risk formulation and care plan.
LIMITATIONS
Many identified tools are well-established but lack scientific validity, particularly predictive validity, or clinical utility. Programme theories were generated rapidly from a survey of risk assessment.
CONCLUSIONS
No single checklist/approach meets the needs of risk assessment for self-harm and suicide. A whole-system approach is required, informed by structured clinical judgement. Useful components include a holistic assessment within a climate of trust, facilitated by family involvement.
STUDY REGISTRATION
This study is registered as PROSPERO CRD42021276671.
FUNDING
This award was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Health and Social Care Delivery Research programme (NIHR award ref: NIHR135079) and is published in full in ; Vol. 12, No. 1. See the NIHR Funding and Awards website for further award information.
Topics: Child; Humans; Adolescent; Mental Health; Risk Assessment; Self-Injurious Behavior; Suicide; Mental Health Services
PubMed: 38314750
DOI: 10.3310/VKTY5822 -
Frontiers in Psychiatry 2023The global or multinational scientific evidence on the distribution of opioid fatality is unknown. Hence, the current study collects epidemiological characteristics to...
BACKGROUND
The global or multinational scientific evidence on the distribution of opioid fatality is unknown. Hence, the current study collects epidemiological characteristics to shed light on the ongoing global or multinational opioid crisis and to promote the development of public health prevention/management strategies.
METHOD
All documents on PRISMA standards were retrieved via electronic databases.
RESULTS
Among the 47 articles relevant to our studies, which depict a total population size of 10,191 individuals, the prevalence of opioid fatal overdose was 15,022 (14.74%). Among the 47 articles, 14 of them reported the gender of the participants, with 22,125 (15.79%) male individuals and 7,235 (5.17%) female individuals, and the age distribution of the participants that was most affected by the overdose was as follows: 29,272 (31.13%) belonged to the 18-34-year-old age group and 25,316 (26.92%) belonged to the less than 18-year-old age group. Eighteen studies qualified for the meta-analysis of the multinational prevalence of fatal opioid overdose, depicting an overall pooled prevalence estimate of 19.66%, with 95% CIs (0.13-0.29), = 99.76% determined using the random-effects model, and Q statistic of 7198.77 ( < 0.0001). The Egger test models of publication bias revealed an insubstantial level of bias ( = 0.015). The subgroup analysis of the study design (cohort or other) revealed that others have the highest prevalence estimate of 34.37, 95% CIs (0.1600-0.5901), = 97.04%, and a sample size of less than 1,000 shows the highest prevalence of 34.66, 95% CIs (0.2039-0.5234), = 97.82%, compared to that of more than 1,000 with a prevalence of 12.28, 95% CIs (0.0675-0.2131), = 99.85%. The meta-regression analysis revealed that sample size (less-than or greater-than 1,000), ( = 0.0098; R = 3.83%) is significantly associated with the observed heterogeneity.
CONCLUSION
Research-based findings of fatal opioid overdose are grossly lacking in middle- and low-income nations. We established that there is a need for opioid fatality surveillance systems in developing nations.
PubMed: 38250280
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1290461 -
The Western Journal of Emergency... Nov 2023Acetaminophen poisoning is commonly treated by emergency physicians. First-line therapy is N-acetylcysteine (NAC), traditionally administered intravenously via a US Food...
INTRODUCTION
Acetaminophen poisoning is commonly treated by emergency physicians. First-line therapy is N-acetylcysteine (NAC), traditionally administered intravenously via a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved three-bag protocol in which each bag has a unique concentration and infusion duration. Recently, simplified, off-label two-bag NAC infusion protocols have become more common. The purpose of this review is to summarize the effectiveness and safety of two-bag NAC.
METHODS
We undertook a comprehensive search of PubMed, EMBASE, and MEDLINE from inception to December 13, 2022, for articles describing human acetaminophen poisonings treated with two-bag NAC, defined as any regimen involving two discrete infusions in two separate bags. Outcomes included effectiveness (measured by incidence of liver injury); incidence of non-allergic anaphylactoid reactions (NAAR); gastrointestinal, cutaneous, and systemic reactions; treatments for NAARs; incidence of NAC-related medication errors; and delays or interruptions in NAC administration.
RESULTS
Twelve articles met final inclusion, 10 of which compared two-bag NAC to the three-bag regimen. Nine articles evaluated the two-bag/20-hour regimen, a simplified version of the FDA-approved three-bag regimen in which the traditional first and second bags are combined into a single four-hour infusion. Nine articles assessed comparative effectiveness of two-bag NAC in terms of liver injury, most commonly assessed for by incidence of hepatotoxicity (aspartate aminotransferase or alanine aminotransferase >1,000 international units per liter). No difference in liver injury was observed between two-bag and three-bag regimens. Of nine articles comparing incidence of NAARs, eight demonstrated statistically fewer NAARs with two-bag regimens, and one showed no difference. In seven articles evaluating treatment for NAARs (antihistamines, corticosteroids, epinephrine), all showed that patients received fewer medications for NAARs with two-bag NAC. Three articles evaluated NAC-related medication errors; two demonstrated no difference, while one study evaluating only children showed fewer errors with two-bag NAC. Two studies evaluated delays and/or interruptions in NAC infusions; both favored two-bag NAC.
CONCLUSION
For patients with acetaminophen poisoning, two-bag NAC regimens appear to have similar outcomes to the traditional three-bag regimen in terms of liver injury. Two-bag NAC regimens are associated with fewer adverse events and fewer treatments for those events than the three-bag regimen and fewer interruptions in antidotal therapy.
Topics: Child; Humans; Acetaminophen; Acetylcysteine; Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; Antidotes; Drug Overdose; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; Infusions, Intravenous
PubMed: 38165196
DOI: 10.5811/westjem.59099