scholarly journals Naloxone Protection, Social Support, Network Characteristics, and Overdose Experiences Among a Cohort of People Who Use Illicit Opioids in New York City

Author(s):  
Alex S. Bennett ◽  
Joy Scheidell ◽  
Jeanette M. Bowles ◽  
Maria Khan ◽  
Alexis Roth ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Despite increased availability of take-home naloxone, many people who use opioids do so in unprotected contexts, with no other person who might administer naloxone present, increasing the likelihood that an overdose will result in death. Thus, there is a social nature to being “protected” from overdose mortality, which highlights the importance of identifying background factors that promote access to protective social networks among people who use opioids. Methods We used respondent-driven sampling to recruit adults residing in New York City who reported recent (past 3-day) nonmedical opioid use (n=575). Participants completed a baseline assessment that included past 30-day measures of substance use, overdose experiences, and number of “protected” opioid use events, defined as involving naloxone and the presence of another person who could administer it, as well as measures of network characteristics and social support. We used modified Poisson regression with robust variance to estimate unadjusted and adjusted prevalence ratios (PRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results 66% of participants had ever been trained to administer naloxone, 18% had used it in the past three months, and 32% had experienced a recent overdose (past 30 days). During recent opioid use events, 64% reported never having naloxone and a person to administer present. This was more common among those: aged ≥50 years (PR: 1.18 (CI: 1.03, 1.34); who identified as non-Hispanic Black (PR: 1.27 (CI: 1.05, 1.53); experienced higher levels of stigma consciousness (PR: 1.13 (CI: 1.00, 1.28); and with small social networks (<5 persons) (APR: 1.14 (CI: 0.98, 1.31). Having a recent overdose experience was associated with severe opioid use disorder (PR: 2.45 (CI: 1.49, 4.04), suicidality (PR: 1.72 (CI: 1.19, 2.49), depression (PR: 1.54 (CI: 1.20, 1.98) and positive urinalysis result for benzodiazepines (PR: 1.56 (CI: 1.23, 1.96), but not with network size. Conclusions Results show considerable gaps in naloxone protection among people who use opioids, with more vulnerable and historically disadvantaged subpopulations less likely to be protected. Larger social networks of people who use opioids may be an important resource to curtail overdose mortality, but more effort is needed to harness the protective aspects of social networks.

Children ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 113
Author(s):  
Sarah E. Wawrzynski ◽  
Melissa A. Alderfer ◽  
Whitney Kvistad ◽  
Lauri Linder ◽  
Maija Reblin ◽  
...  

Siblings of children with cancer need support to ameliorate the challenges they encounter; however, little is known about what types and sources of support exist for siblings. This study addresses this gap in our understanding of the social networks and sources of support for adolescents with a brother or sister who has cancer. Additionally, we describe how the support siblings receive addresses what they feel are the hardest aspects of being a sibling of a child with cancer. During semi-structured interviews, siblings (ages 12–17) constructed ecomaps describing their support networks. Data were coded for support type (emotional, instrumental, informational, validation, companionship) and support provider (e.g., mother, teacher, friend). Network characteristics and patterns of support were explored. Support network size ranged from 3 to 10 individuals (M = 6 ± 1.9); siblings most frequently reported mothers as sources of support (n = 22, 91.7%), followed by fathers (n = 19, 79.2%), close friends (n = 19, 79.2%) and siblings (with or without cancer) (n = 17, 70.8%). Friends and brothers or sisters most often provided validation and companionship while instrumental and informational supports came from parents. This study provides foundational knowledge about siblings’ support networks, which can be utilized to design interventions that improve support for siblings of children with cancer.


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. S99-S99
Author(s):  
Chaorui Huang ◽  
David Lucero ◽  
Denise Paone ◽  
Ellenie Tuazon ◽  
Demetre Daskalakis

Abstract Background Along with a growing opioid epidemic nationwide, opioid users often have an increased risk of severe infectious diseases including endocarditis, osteomyelitis, and central nervous system (CNS) abscess. As the largest city in the United States, New York City (NYC) may serve as a study model for opioid use and infectious diseases. We investigated the association between opioid use and hospitalizations for endocarditis, osteomyelitis, and CNS abscess in NYC. Methods Data for NYC residents aged ≥18 years discharged from New York State hospitals during 2001–2014 were analyzed using a hospital discharge dataset. We defined a hospitalization for endocarditis, osteomyelitis, and CNS abscess as one with a principal or secondary diagnosis for these conditions within the discharge record. We identified opioid users by examining principal or secondary diagnoses for opioid use within the discharge record at the time of hospitalization for endocarditis, osteomyelitis, and CNS abscess. Log-binomial model was applied among all hospitalized patients using endocarditis, osteomyelitis, and CNS abscess as the outcome, adjusting for age, sex, race, and borough. Results During 2001–2014, there were 139,392 hospitalizations in total for endocarditis, osteomyelitis, or CNS abscess, of which 8,823 (6.3%) were among opioid users. There was an increased risk of hospitalization for endocarditis [RR: 2.6 (95% CI: 2.5–2.7)], osteomyelitis [RR: 1.1 (95% CI: 1.1–1.1)], and CNS abscesses [RR: 1.9 (95% CI: 1.8–2.1)] among hospitalized opioid users compared with hospitalized nonopioid users, adjusted by age, sex, race, and borough. Hospitalized opioid users had four times the risk for endocarditis hospitalization compared with hospitalized nonopioid users in the 18–44 year age group (RR: 4.2 [95% CI: 3.9–4.5]) (Table 1). Conclusion These results provide further evidence that opioid use is associated with an increased risk of endocarditis, osteomyelitis, and CNS abscess. Efforts to combat the opioid epidemic might lower the overall incidence of endocarditis, osteomyelitis, and CNS abscess. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.


2005 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 147-156 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Hembree ◽  
S. Galea ◽  
J. Ahern ◽  
M. Tracy ◽  
T. Markham Piper ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 222 (Supplement_5) ◽  
pp. S322-S334
Author(s):  
Ashly E Jordan ◽  
Charles M Cleland ◽  
Katarzyna Wyka ◽  
Bruce R Schackman ◽  
David C Perlman ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Hepatitis C virus (HCV) incidence has increased in the worsening opioid epidemic. We examined the HCV preventive efficacy of medication-assisted treatment (MAT), and geographic variation in HCV community viral load (CVL) and its association with HCV incidence. Methods HCV incidence was directly measured in an open cohort of patients in a MAT program in New York City between 1 January 2013 and 31 December 2016. Area-level HCV CVL was calculated. Associations of individual-level factors, and of HCV CVL, with HCV incidence were examined in separate analyses. Results Among 8352 patients, HCV prevalence was 48.7%. Among 2535 patients seronegative at first antibody test, HCV incidence was 2.25/100 person-years of observation (PYO). Incidence was 6.70/100 PYO among those reporting main drug use by injection. Female gender, drug injection, and lower MAT retention were significantly associated with higher incidence rate ratios. Female gender, drug injection, and methadone doses &lt;60 mg were independently associated with shorter time to HCV seroconversion. HCV CVLs varied significantly by geographic area. Conclusions HCV incidence was higher among those with lower MAT retention and was lower among those receiving higher methadone doses, suggesting the need to ensure high MAT retention, adequate doses, and increased HCV prevention and treatment engagement. HCV CVLs vary geographically and merit further study as predictors of HCV incidence.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-71
Author(s):  
Suky Martinez ◽  
Jermaine D. Jones ◽  
Laura Brandt ◽  
Aimee N. C. Campbell ◽  
Rebecca Abbott ◽  
...  

2014 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 90-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanna Almeida ◽  
Candace Mulready-Ward ◽  
Vani R. Bettegowda ◽  
Indu B. Ahluwalia

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