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Current HIV/AIDS Reports Apr 2018This article reviews the case for recognizing (1) the epidemics of opioid misuse, overdose, hepatitis C virus, and HIV as a syndemic and (2) the importance of examining... (Review)
Review
PURPOSE OF REVIEW
This article reviews the case for recognizing (1) the epidemics of opioid misuse, overdose, hepatitis C virus, and HIV as a syndemic and (2) the importance of examining and addressing structural factors in responses to this syndemic. We focus on the current syndemic in the US, but also consider data from other locations to highlight the issues existing and arising in various contexts.
RECENT FINDINGS
Advances in multi-level theory and statistical methods allow sound ecologic and multi-level analyses of the impact of structural factors on the syndemic. Studies of opioid misuse, overdoses, hepatitis C virus, and HIV demonstrate that area-level access to healthcare, medication-assisted treatment of opioid use disorders, sterile injection equipment, and overdose prevention with naloxone, as well as factors such as opioid marketing, income inequality, intensity of policing activities, and health care policies, are related to the prevalence of substance misuse, overdoses, infection risk, and morbidity. Structural variables can predict area-level vulnerability to the syndemic. The implementation of combined prevention and treatment interventions can control and reverse components of the syndemic. Recognizing and monitoring potent structural factors can facilitate the identification of areas at risk of vulnerability to the syndemic. Further, many structural factors are modifiable through intervention and policy to reduce structural vulnerability and create health-enabling environments. Evidence supports the immediate implementation of broader HCV and HIV testing and substance use screening, medication-assisted treatment, needle/syringe exchange programs, naloxone programs, increased population-level implementation of HCV treatment, and further attention to structural-level factors predicting, and contributing to, area-level vulnerability, such as degrees of opioid marketing, distribution, and prescribing.
Topics: Drug Overdose; HIV Infections; Hepatitis C; Humans; Opioid-Related Disorders; Risk Factors; Syndemic
PubMed: 29460225
DOI: 10.1007/s11904-018-0390-3 -
Harm Reduction Journal Dec 2017North America is currently experiencing an overdose epidemic due to a significant increase of fentanyl-adulterated opioids and related analogs. Multiple jurisdictions...
BACKGROUND
North America is currently experiencing an overdose epidemic due to a significant increase of fentanyl-adulterated opioids and related analogs. Multiple jurisdictions have declared a public health emergency given the increasing number of overdose deaths. In the province of British Columbia (BC) in Canada, people who use drugs and who are unstably housed are disproportionately affected by a rising overdose crisis, with close to 90% of overdose deaths occurring indoors. Despite this alarming number, overdose prevention and response interventions have yet to be widely implemented in a range of housing settings.
OVERDOSE PREVENTION INTERVENTIONS
There are few examples of overdose prevention interventions in housing environments. In BC, for example, there are peer-led naloxone training and distribution programs targeted at some housing environments. There are also "supervised" spaces such as overdose prevention sites (similar to supervised consumption sites (SCS)) located in some housing environments; however, their coverage remains limited and the impacts of these programs are unclear due to the lack of evaluation work undertaken to date. A small number of SCS exist globally in housing environments (e.g., Germany), but like overdose prevention sites in BC, little is known about the design or effectiveness, as they remain under-evaluated.
CONCLUSIONS
Implementing SCS and other overdose prevention interventions across a range of housing sites provides multiple opportunities to address overdose risk and drug-related harms for marginalized people who use drugs. Given the current overdose crisis rising across North America, and the growing evidence of the relationship between housing and overdose, the continued implementation and evaluation of novel overdose prevention interventions in housing environments should be a public health priority. A failure to do so will simply perpetuate what has proven to be a devastating epidemic of preventable death.
Topics: British Columbia; Drug Overdose; Harm Reduction; Housing; Humans; Naloxone; Narcotic Antagonists; Needle-Exchange Programs
PubMed: 29212507
DOI: 10.1186/s12954-017-0203-9 -
Injury Prevention : Journal of the... Oct 2021Community rapid response may reduce opioid overdose harms, but is hindered by the lack of timely data. To address this need, we created and evaluated the Michigan system...
Community rapid response may reduce opioid overdose harms, but is hindered by the lack of timely data. To address this need, we created and evaluated the Michigan system for opioid overdose surveillance (SOS). SOS integrates suspected fatal overdose data from Medical Examiners (MEs), and suspected non-fatal overdoses (proxied by naloxone administration) from the Michigan Emergency Medical Services (EMS) into a web-based dashboard that was developed with stakeholder feedback. Authorised stakeholders can view approximate incident locations and automated spatiotemporal data summaries, while the general public can view county-level summaries. Following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) surveillance system evaluation guidelines, we assessed simplicity, flexibility, data quality, acceptability, sensitivity, positive value positive (PVP), representativeness, timeliness and stability of SOS. Data are usually integrated into SOS 1-day postincident, and the interface is updated weekly for debugging and new feature addition, suggesting high timeliness, stability and flexibility. Regarding representativeness, SOS data cover 100% of EMS-based naloxone adminstrations in Michigan, and receives suspected fatal overdoses from MEs covering 79.1% of Michigan's population, but misses those receiving naloxone from non-EMS. PVP of the suspected fatal overdose indicator is nearly 80% across MEs. Because SOS uses pre-existing data, added burden on MEs/EMS is minimal, leading to high acceptability; there are over 300 authorised SOS stakeholders (~6 new registrations/week) as of this writing, suggesting high user acceptability. Using a collaborative, cross-sector approach we created a timely opioid overdose surveillance system that is flexible, acceptable, and is reasonably accurate and complete. Lessons learnt can aid other jurisdictions in creating analogous systems.
Topics: Drug Overdose; Emergency Medical Services; Humans; Michigan; Naloxone; Narcotic Antagonists; Opiate Overdose
PubMed: 33397794
DOI: 10.1136/injuryprev-2020-043882 -
Journal of Urban Health : Bulletin of... Jun 2003Drug overdose is a major cause of premature death and morbidity among heroin users. This article examines recent research into heroin overdose to inform interventions... (Review)
Review
Drug overdose is a major cause of premature death and morbidity among heroin users. This article examines recent research into heroin overdose to inform interventions that will reduce the rate of overdose death. The demographic characteristics of overdose cases are discussed, including factors associated with overdose: polydrug use, drug purity, drug tolerance, routes of administration, and suicide. Responses by heroin users at overdoses are also examined. Potential interventions to reduce the rate of overdose and overdose-related morbidity are examined in light of the emerging data in this field.
Topics: Australia; Drug Overdose; Evidence-Based Medicine; Heroin Dependence; Humans; Research; Risk Factors
PubMed: 12791795
DOI: 10.1093/jurban/jtg022 -
The International Journal on Drug Policy Apr 2022The dominant focus of North America's current overdose crisis has been opioids, resulting in considerable research and harm reduction efforts to address opioid-related...
BACKGROUND
The dominant focus of North America's current overdose crisis has been opioids, resulting in considerable research and harm reduction efforts to address opioid-related overdose risks. Less attention has been paid to people who use stimulants (PWUS) despite recent increases in stimulant use and stimulant-involved overdoses (i.e., "overamping"). Stimulant users' definitions, risk factors and experiences of, and responses to, overamping are poorly understood, thereby putting PWUS at heightened risk of adverse health outcomes. This study explores how PWUS understand, experience, and respond to overamping.
METHODS
In-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with 61 PWUS in Vancouver, Canada's Downtown Eastside neighbourhood. Thematic analysis of interviews focused on contextualizing stimulant overdoses, including how PWUS understand, define, experience, and respond to overamping.
RESULTS
Participants associated overamping experiences with commonly identified signs and symptoms, such as rapid onset, elevated heart rate, incontinence, and audiovisua hallucinations, but also reported more serious indicators of overamping, such as unconsciousness, cardiac arrests and seizures. Our findings demonstrate that, among PWUS, there was no unified understanding of overamping such as with opioid overdose and individual experiences had substantial variation in severity and presentation. This impacted the ability to adequately respond to stimulant overdoses, which were primarily self-managed through methods including stabilizing breathing, polysubstance use, and cold showers.
CONCLUSION
Given the growing role of stimulants in North America's overdose crisis, there is an urgent need to improve the identification of stimulant overdoses in real world settings. Our findings identify a gap in current understandings of stimulant overdose, and demonstrate the need for public health and harm reduction interventions to better address overamp risk among PWUS, including harm reduction campaigns to disseminate information regarding identifying signs of, and proper responses to, overamping.
Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Central Nervous System Stimulants; Drug Overdose; Harm Reduction; Humans; Opiate Overdose; Qualitative Research
PubMed: 35114520
DOI: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2022.103592 -
Substance Abuse 2022Naloxone is an opioid antagonist medication that can be administered by lay people or medical professionals to reverse opioid overdoses and reduce overdose mortality....
Naloxone is an opioid antagonist medication that can be administered by lay people or medical professionals to reverse opioid overdoses and reduce overdose mortality. Cost was identified as a potential barrier to providing expanded overdose education and naloxone distribution (OEND) in New York City (NYC) in 2017. We estimated the cost of delivering OEND for different types of opioid overdose prevention programs (OOPPs) in NYC. : We interviewed naloxone coordinators at 11 syringe service programs (SSPs) and 10 purposively sampled non-SSPs in NYC from December 2017 to September 2019. The samples included diverse non-SSP program types, program sizes, and OEND funding sources. We calculated one-time start up costs and ongoing operating costs using micro-costing methods to estimate the cost of personnel time and materials for OEND activities from the program perspective, but excluding naloxone kit costs. : Implementing an OEND program required a one-time median startup cost of $874 for SSPs and $2,548 for other programs excluding overhead, with 80% of those costs attributed to time and travel for training staff. SSPs spent a median of $90 per staff member trained and non-SSPs spent $150 per staff member. The median monthly cost of OEND program activities excluding overhead was $1,579 for SSPs and $2,529 for non-SSPs. The costs for non-SSPs varied by size, with larger, multi-site programs having higher median costs compared to single-site programs. The estimated median cost per kit dispensed excluding and including overhead was $19 versus $25 per kit for SSPs, and $36 versus $43 per kit for non-SSPs, respectively. : OEND operating costs vary by program type and number of sites. Funders should consider that providing free naloxone to OEND programs does not cover full operating costs. Further exploration of cost-effectiveness and program efficiency should be considered across different types of OEND settings.
Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Drug Overdose; Humans; Naloxone; Narcotic Antagonists; New York City; Opiate Overdose; Opioid-Related Disorders
PubMed: 34666633
DOI: 10.1080/08897077.2021.1986877 -
Maternal and Child Health Journal Jul 2023Opioid overdose is a leading cause of maternal mortality, yet limited attention has been given to the consequences of opioid use disorder (OUD) in the year following... (Review)
Review
OBJECTIVE
Opioid overdose is a leading cause of maternal mortality, yet limited attention has been given to the consequences of opioid use disorder (OUD) in the year following delivery when most drug-related deaths occur. This article provides an overview of the literature on OUD and overdose in the first year postpartum and provides recommendations to advance maternal opioid research.
APPROACH
A rapid scoping review of peer-reviewed research (2010-2021) on OUD and overdose in the year following delivery was conducted in PubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of Science databases. This article discusses existing research, remaining knowledge gaps, and methodological considerations needed.
RESULTS
Seven studies were included. Medication for OUD (MOUD) was the only identified factor associated with a reduction in overdose rates. Key literature gaps include the role of mental health disorders and co-occurring substance use, as well as interpersonal, social, and environmental contexts that may contribute to postpartum opioid problems and overdose.
CONCLUSION
There remains a limited understanding of why women in the first year postpartum are particularly vulnerable to opioid overdose. Recommendations include: (1) identifying subgroups of women with OUD at highest risk for postpartum overdose, (2) assessing opioid use, overdose, and risks throughout the first year postpartum, (3) evaluating the effect of co-occurring physical and mental health conditions and substance use disorders, (4) investigating the social and contextual determinants of opioid use and overdose after delivery, (5) increasing MOUD retention and treatment engagement postpartum, and (6) utilizing rigorous and multidisciplinary research methods to understand and prevent postpartum overdose.
Topics: Humans; Female; Analgesics, Opioid; Opiate Overdose; Opioid-Related Disorders; Drug Overdose; Opiate Substitution Treatment; Postpartum Period
PubMed: 36840785
DOI: 10.1007/s10995-023-03614-7 -
Academic Emergency Medicine : Official... Feb 1996To determine the clinical presenting signs and symptoms in presumed overdoses of sertraline, a recently approved antidepressant.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the clinical presenting signs and symptoms in presumed overdoses of sertraline, a recently approved antidepressant.
METHODS
A prospective study involving five western regional poison control centers was performed to evaluate the clinical manifestations of presumed sertraline ingestions (overdoses). Information about calls pertaining to sertraline ingestions was recorded on a standard data collection form. Data including subject age, sex, amount ingested, coingestants, time interval to evaluation, vital signs, presenting signs and symptoms, ECG abnormalities, treatment given, disposition, and length of stay in the ED were collected over a nine-month period.
RESULTS
Of 42 ingestions reported, two were adverse reactions to normal doses and 40 were overdoses. Stated amounts of sertraline ingested ranged from 50 to 8,000 mg (mean 1,579 mg). Mean patient age was 35.3 years (range 1 to 69 years). Mean interval to presentation was 3.0 hours. Seventeen of the 40 patients ingested sertraline alone. Of this subgroup, ten had no sign or symptom. The most common abnormalties reported in isolated sertraline overdose were tremor, lethargy, and nausea. Less common findings included agitation, confusion, and vomiting. There was no significant morbidity in this subgroup of presumed isolated sertraline ingestion. Of the 23 patients who ingested other medications along with sertraline, four were asymptomatic. Benzodiazepines and alcohol were the most frequently coingested substances. Lethargy, nausea, dry mouth, and mydriasis were the most common features reported in this group. Treatment included lavage, activated charcoal, and observation. Twelve patients were admitted for 24-hour observation, none had an adverse outcome. Of the patients released from the ED, the mean length of stay was 3.9 hours.
CONCLUSION
Sertraline is commonly taken in overdose with other medications or alcohol. The signs and symptoms that develop in association with an overdose of sertraline appear to be minor and of short duration.
Topics: 1-Naphthylamine; Aged; Antidepressive Agents; Drug Overdose; Female; Humans; Incidence; Male; Prognosis; Prospective Studies; Risk Factors; Sertraline
PubMed: 8808373
DOI: 10.1111/j.1553-2712.1996.tb03400.x -
Frontiers in Public Health 2024Globally, overdose deaths increased near the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, which created availability and access barriers to addiction and social services....
INTRODUCTION
Globally, overdose deaths increased near the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, which created availability and access barriers to addiction and social services. Especially in times of a crisis like a pandemic, local exposures, service availability and access, and system responses have major influence on people who use drugs. For policy makers to be effective, an understanding at the local level is needed.
METHODS
This retrospective epidemiologic study from 2019 through 2021 compares immediate and 20-months changes in overdose deaths from the pandemic start to 16 months before its arrival in Pinellas County, FL We examine toxicologic death records of 1,701 overdoses to identify relations with interdiction, and service delivery.
RESULTS
There was an immediate 49% increase (95% CI 23-82%, < 0.0001) in overdose deaths in the first month following the first COVID deaths. Immediate increases were found for deaths involving alcohol (171%), heroin (108%), fentanyl (78%), amphetamines (55%), and cocaine (45%). Overdose deaths remained 27% higher (CI 4-55%, = 0.015) than before the pandemic through 2021.Abrupt service reductions occurred when the pandemic began: in-clinic methadone treatment dropped by two-thirds, counseling by 38%, opioid seizures by 29%, and drug arrests by 56%. Emergency transport for overdose and naloxone distributions increased at the pandemic onset (12%, 93%, respectively) and remained higher through 2021 (15%, 377%,). Regression results indicate that lower drug seizures predicted higher overdoses, and increased 911 transports predicted higher overdoses. The proportion of excess overdose deaths to excess non-COVID deaths after the pandemic relative to the year before was 0.28 in Pinellas County, larger than 75% of other US counties.
CONCLUSIONS
Service and interdiction interruptions likely contributed to overdose death increases during the pandemic. Relaxing restrictions on medical treatment for opioid addiction and public health interventions could have immediate and long-lasting effects when a major disruption, such as a pandemic, occurs. County level data dashboards comprised of overdose toxicology, and interdiction and service data, can help explain changes in overdose deaths. As a next step in predicting which policies and practices will best reduce local overdoses, we propose using simulation modeling with agent-based models to examine complex interacting systems.
Topics: Humans; COVID-19; Drug Overdose; Retrospective Studies; Adult; Male; Florida; Female; Middle Aged; Pandemics; SARS-CoV-2
PubMed: 38859894
DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1366161 -
Addiction (Abingdon, England) Feb 2022To assess whether naloxone prescribing in clinical contexts targeted pain patients most at risk for opioid overdose.
AIMS
To assess whether naloxone prescribing in clinical contexts targeted pain patients most at risk for opioid overdose.
DESIGN
A retrospective cohort study using data from the Health Facts Database.
SETTING
Over 600 United States healthcare facilities.
PARTICIPANTS
Three patient groups were followed for 2 years during 2009 to 2017: individuals with shoulder or long bone fractures (n = 252 424), chronic pain syndrome (CPS) (n = 76 141), or non-traumatic low back pain (n = 792 956) who received an opioid prescription. Groups were chosen based on previous work.
MEASUREMENTS
The outcome was opioid overdose identified by International Classification of Diseases codes (ICDs) and the primary predictor was number of naloxone prescriptions identified by National Drug Codes (NDCs).
FINDINGS
Opioid overdoses occurred among 0.16% of fracture patients (average follow-up time to overdose [AFU] = 240 days), 1.28% of CPS patients (AFU = 244 days), and 0.30% low back pain patients (AFU = 264 days). A total of 58 083 bone fracture patients received naloxone prescriptions, and naloxone prescription was associated with subsequent opioid overdose (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.87, 95% CI = 1.68-2.09), and number of subsequent overdoses (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 1.89, 95% CI = 1.69-2.12). A total of 19 529 CPS patients received naloxone prescriptions, and naloxone prescription was associated with subsequent opioid overdose (HR = 1.69, 95% CI = 1.61-1.78) and number of subsequent overdoses (IRR = 1.74, 95% CI = 1.67-1.83). A total of 110 608 low back pain patients received naloxone prescriptions, and naloxone prescription was associated with subsequent opioid overdose (HR = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.27-1.40) and number of subsequent overdoses (IRR = 1.35, 95% CI = 1.29-1.41).
CONCLUSIONS
Receiving a naloxone prescription appears to be associated with increased risk of subsequent opioid overdose among patients with acute and chronic pain, suggesting prescribers often identify patients most in need of naloxone.
Topics: Analgesics, Opioid; Chronic Pain; Drug Overdose; Humans; Naloxone; Narcotic Antagonists; Opiate Overdose; Retrospective Studies; United States
PubMed: 34286895
DOI: 10.1111/add.15643