scholarly journals Increasing presence of xylazine in heroin and/or fentanyl deaths, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 2010–2019

2021 ◽  
pp. injuryprev-2020-043968
Author(s):  
Jewell Johnson ◽  
Lia Pizzicato ◽  
Caroline Johnson ◽  
Kendra Viner
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
United States ◽  
Drug Users ◽  
Active Drug ◽  
Illicit Drug ◽  
Adverse Outcomes ◽  
Drug Supply ◽  
Health Consequences ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
The Usa

Reports from active drug users state that xylazine, the veterinary tranquilliser, has been increasing in the illicit drug supply in Philadelphia. To describe trends and characteristics of unintentional deaths from heroin and/or fentanyl overdose with xylazine detections occurring in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the Philadelphia Department of Public Health analysed data on deaths from unintentional heroin and/or fentanyl overdose from the Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s Office over a 10-year period (2010–2019). Xylazine went from being detected in less than 2% cases of fatal heroin and/or fentanyl overdose between 2010 and 2015 to 262 (31%) of the 858 fatal heroin and/or fentanyl overdose cases in 2019. Currently, information is limited on the presence of xylazine in continental United States. Xylazine’s association with adverse outcomes in other locations indicates that potential health consequences should also be monitored in the USA. Whenever possible, jurisdictions should consistently test for xylazine.

Summary and conclusions

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas F. Babor ◽  
Jonathan Caulkins ◽  
Benedikt Fischer ◽  
David Foxcroft ◽  
Keith Humphreys ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
International Organizations ◽  
Drug Policy ◽  
Drug Users ◽  
Illicit Drug ◽  
Supply And Demand ◽  
Unintended Consequences ◽  
Public Health Approach ◽  
Drug Supply ◽  
The Public ◽  
Balanced Approach

Among the 47 options reviewed in this book, most show some evidence of effectiveness in at least one country, but the evidence is less than definitive for many others, either because the interventions are ineffective, or the research is inadequate. Unfortunately, policies that have shown little or no evidence of effectiveness continue to be the preferred options of many countries and international organizations. The evidence reviewed in this book supports two overarching conclusions. First, an integrated and balanced approach to evidence-informed drug policy is more likely to benefit the public good than uncoordinated efforts to reduce drug supply and demand. Second, by shifting the emphasis toward a public health approach, it may be possible to reduce the extent of illicit drug use, prevent the escalation of new epidemics, and avoid the unintended consequences arising from the marginalization of drug users through severe criminal penalties.

Relationship between marijuana and other illicit drug use and depression/suicidal thoughts among late middle-aged and older adults

2015 ◽  
Vol 28 (4) ◽  
pp. 577-589 ◽  
Author(s):  
Namkee G. Choi ◽  
Diana M. DiNitto ◽  
C. Nathan Marti ◽  
Bryan Y. Choi
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Drug Users ◽  
Illicit Drugs ◽  
Illicit Drug ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Illicit Drug Use ◽  
Middle Aged ◽  
Suicidal Thoughts ◽  
The Usa

ABSTRACTBackground:Despite growing numbers of older-adult illicit drug users, research on this topic is rare. This study examined the relationship between marijuana and/or other illicit drug use and major depressive episode (MDE) and serious suicidal thoughts among those aged 50+ years in the USA.Methods:The public use files of the 2008 to 2012 US National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) provided data on 29,634 individuals aged 50+ years. Logistic regression analysis was used to test hypothesized associations between past-year marijuana and/or other illicit drug use and MDE and serious suicidal thoughts.Results:Nearly 6% of the 50+ years age group reported past-year marijuana and/or other illicit drug use. Compared to non-users of any illicit drug, the odds of past-year MDE among those who used marijuana only, other illicit drugs only, and marijuana and other illicit drugs were 1.54 (95% CI = 1.17–2.03), 2.75 (95% CI = 1.75–4.33), and 2.12 (95% CI = 1.45–3.09), respectively. Those who used marijuana and other drugs also had higher odds (2.44, 95% CI = 1.58–3.77) of suicidal thoughts than non-users of any illicit drug. However, among users of any illicit drug, no difference was found among users of marijuana only, marijuana and other illicit drugs, and other illicit drugs only. Among marijuana users, marijuana use frequency was a significant correlate of suicidal thoughts only among those with MDE.Conclusions:Health and mental health (MH) service providers should pay close attention to the potential reciprocal effects of marijuana and other illicit drug use and MDE and suicidal thoughts among late middle-aged and older adults.

A population-based study of cigarette smoking among illicit drug users in the United States

Addiction ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 97 (7) ◽  
pp. 861-869 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kimber Paschall Richter ◽  
Harsohena K. Ahluwalia ◽  
Michael C. Mosier ◽  
Niaman Nazir ◽  
Jasjit S. Ahluwalia
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Cigarette Smoking ◽  
Drug Users ◽  
Illicit Drug ◽  
The United States ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Population Based Study ◽  
Illicit Drug Users

Hazardous Ammonia Releases: Public Health Consequences and Risk Factors for Evacuation and Injury, United States, 1993–1998

2003 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 197-204 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marc G. Weisskopf ◽  
James M. Drew ◽  
Lawrence P. Hanrahan ◽  
Henry A. Anderson ◽  
Gilbert S. Haugh
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
United States ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Health Consequences

Violent Victimization and the Routine Activities/Lifestyle of Active Drug Users

2008 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 1105-1137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dixie J. Koo ◽  
Dale D. Chitwood ◽  
Jesús Sánchez
Keyword(s):  
Drug Users ◽  
Active Drug ◽  
Role Theory ◽  
Illicit Drug ◽  
Routine Activities ◽  
High Risk Population ◽  
Violent Victimization ◽  
Illicit Drug Users ◽  
Theoretical Perspectives ◽  
Lifestyle Theory

The present study examines violent victimization among a sample of active drug users. Two theoretical perspectives are combined to form the underlying conceptual framework of the study: One draws upon routine activities/lifestyle theory and the other incorporates the street addict role theory. While routine activities/lifestyle theory addresses victimization in general, the street addict role theory explains the specific lifestyle characteristics of an active drug abuser which are relevant to the victimization of illicit drug users. We find the prevalence of violent victimization to be high. Approximately 22% of respondents reported being victimized within a 30 day period. We also find support for combining the two perspectives to help explain violent victimization. Demographic, personal networks, drug use, and street business domain factors are associated with violent victimization for this high risk population. Our study extends the investigation of violent victimization among illicit drug users by identifying characteristics that differentiate drug users who are recent victims of violence from others who have not been similarly victimized.

A Historical Perspective of Unconventional Oil and Gas Extraction and Public Health

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erin N. Haynes ◽  
Lisa McKenzie ◽  
Stephanie A. Malin ◽  
John W. Cherrie
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
United States ◽  
Historical Perspective ◽  
Oil And Gas ◽  
The United States ◽  
Gas Extraction ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
Unconventional Oil ◽  
Technological Advances ◽  
Unconventional Oil And Gas

Technological advances in directional well drilling and hydraulic fracturing have enabled extraction of oil and gas from once unobtainable geological formations. These unconventional oil and gas extraction (UOGE) techniques have positioned the United States as the fastest-growing oil and gas producer in the world. The onset of UOGE as a viable subsurface energy abstraction technology has also led to the rise of public concern about its potential health impacts on workers and communities, both in the United States and other countries where the technology is being developed. Herein we review in the national and global impact of UOGE from a historical perspective of occupational and public health. Also discussed are the sociological interactions between scientific knowledge, social media, and citizen action groups, which have brought wider attention to the potential public health implications of UOGE.

Ethical Issues Raised by Needle Exchange Programs

1995 ◽  
Vol 23 (4) ◽  
pp. 382-388 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sana Loue ◽  
Peter Lurie ◽  
Linda S. Lloyd
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
United States ◽  
Injection Drug Users ◽  
Drug Users ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
United States Public Health ◽  
Needle Exchange ◽  
The United States ◽  
Exchange Programs ◽  
Needle Exchange Programs

United States public health experts have long expressed concern about the prevalence of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among injection drug users (IDUs). The United States has the largest reported IDU population in the world: 1.1 to 1.5 million. Recent estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggest that 50 percent of incident HIV infections occur among IDUs, with additional infections occurring among their sex partners and offspring. More than 33 percent of new AIDS cases occur in IDUs, their sexual partners, and their children. Almost one half of all women diagnosed with AIDS in the United States are IDUS. Many of the remaining infected women were infected as a result of sex with a male IDU.While public health agencies, legislators, community leaders, and religious groups have engaged in vigorous debate over the merits of needle exchange programs (NEPs) as an intervention to reduce HIV transmission, the programs, some legal and some illegal, have been implemented in fifty-five cities across the country.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document