Overdose in young people using heroin: associations with mental health, prescription drug use and personal circumstances

Author(s):  
Jane M Burns ◽  
Raymond F Martyres ◽  
Danielle Clode ◽  
Jennifer M Boldero
2021 ◽  
Vol 29 (1-2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marianne Lindstad ◽  
Svetlana Skurtveit ◽  
Anne Bukten

SAMMENDRAGBakgrunn: Legemiddelbruk i den norske befolkningen er økende. Kunnskap om omfang, hvem brukerne er og bruksmønster er en forutsetning for optimalisering av legemiddelbruk i alle grupper av befolkningen. Samtidig finnes det ingen oppdaterte studier som viser bruk av forskrevne legemidler blant innsatte i Norge. Hensikten med denne studien er derfor å beskrive bruk av forskrevne psykofarmaka blant innsatte i fengsel før og under soning, samt undersøke hvilke faktorer som er assosiert med legemiddelbruk.Material og metode: Datamaterialet er fra «The Norwegian Offender Mental Health and Addiction Study», NorMA-studien, som ble gjennomført i perioden 2013-2014 ved 57 fengselsenheter i Norge. Totalt svarte 1495 innsatte (96 kvinner) på spørreskjema. Vi undersøkte selvrapportert bruk av psykofarmaka knyttet til sovemedisin, beroligende legemidler, antidepressiva, LAR-legemidler, smertestillende legemidler og ADHD- legemidler. Vi brukte logistiske regresjoner for å undersøke sammenhenger mellom ulike bakgrunnsfaktorer og bruk av ulike legemidler under soning.Resultater: Sovemedisin var mest brukt, både før og under soning. Tjue prosent av innsatte brukte sove- medisin daglig under soning. Innsatte brukte mer psykofarmaka enn den generelle befolkningen, med unntak av smertestillende legemidler. Under soning var bruk av de fleste undersøkte psykofarmaka assosiert med betydelige psykiske plager, skadelig rusbruk, å motta økonomiske sosiale ytelser samt å ha hatt en oppvekst preget av rus og psykiske problemer.Konklusjon: Våre funn viser at innsattes psykiske helse og russituasjon bør ha høy prioritet under soning. Det er forventet at innsatte bruker mer forskrevne psykofarmaka enn den generelle befolkningen. At den generelle befolkningen bruker mer smertestillende enn innsatte, bør derfor undersøkes nærmere. Lindstad M, Skurtveit S, Bukten A. Too much or too little medication? A national study of prescribedpsychotropic drugs among inmates in Norwegian prisons. Norsk Epidemiologi 2021; 29 (1-2): 85-95.ENGLISH SUMMARYBackground: Prescription drug use in the Norwegian population is increasing. Knowledge of who the usersareand usage patterns is a prerequisite for optimizing prescription drug use in all groups of the population.There are no updated studies describing prescription drug use among prisoners in Norway. The purpose ofthis study is to describe the use of prescribed psychotropic drugs among inmates in prison before and duringimprisonment and to investigate factors associated with prescription drug use while in prison.Material and method: The study is based on self-reported data from "The Norwegian Offender MentalHealth and Addiction Study" (NorMA) which was conducted in the period 2013-2014 at 57 prison units inNorway. A total of 1495 inmates (96 women) responded to the questionnaire. We investigated self-reporteduse of psychotropic drugs related to: hypnotics, anxiolytics, antidepressants, OMT-medications, pain medicationand ADHD-medications. We used logistic regression models to investigate relationships betweendifferent background factors and the use of prescribed drugs during imprisonment.Results: Hypnotics were most commonly used, both before and during imprisonment. Twenty percent ofinmates had used hypnotics daily during imprisonment. Inmates used more psychotropic drugs than the generalpopulation, with the exception of pain medications. During imprisonment, usage of most psychotropicdrugs imprisonment were associated with symptoms of mental illness, harmful drug use before imprisonment,having received social benefits and to have had an upbringing marked by drug use and mental problems.Conclusion: Our findings show that prisoners' mental health and substance use situation should have a highpriority during imprisonment. It is expected that inmates use more prescribed psychotropic drugs than thegeneral population. The fact that the general population uses more pain medication than inmates shouldtherefore be investigated further. 


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. e000674
Author(s):  
Emma Sparks ◽  
Liliane Zorzela ◽  
Candace Necyk ◽  
Baljit Khamba ◽  
Liana Urichuk ◽  
...  

BackgroundPaediatric mental health patients frequently use natural health products (NHP) in addition to prescription medications, but very little is known about adverse events and possible NHP–drug interactions.ObjectiveTo determine: (1) the prevalence of paediatric mental health patients taking prescription medications only, NHP only, both NHP and prescription medications concurrently or neither; (2) which prescription medications and NHP are most commonly used in paediatric mental health populations and (3) adverse events experienced in the last 30 days (serious and non-serious).DesignCross-sectional surveillance study.SettingPaediatric mental health clinics.Population/interventionOn their first clinic visit, paediatric mental health patients were provided with a form inquiring about prescription drug use, NHP use and any undesirable event experienced in the last month.ResultsOf the 536 patients included in this study, 23% (n=120) reported taking only prescription medication(s), 21% (n=109) reported only NHP use, 21% (n=112) reported using both NHP and prescription drugs concurrently, and 36% (n=191) reported using neither. Overall, there were 23 adverse events reported; this represents 6.3%, 2.8%, 10.8% and 0.6% of each population, respectively. The majority of patients who experienced an adverse event reported taking more than one NHP or prescription drug. No serious adverse events were reported.ConclusionNearly half of the paediatric mental health patients in this study were taking NHPs alone or in addition to prescription medications. Active surveillance identified multiple adverse events associated with NHP and prescription drug use; none were serious. Healthcare professionals were encouraged to initiate conversations regarding NHP use.


NASPA Journal ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ethan A Kolek

The purpose of this study was to explore recreational prescription drug use among undergraduate students. Although anecdotal accounts on this subject abound, empirical research is extremely limited. Data from a survey of a random sample of 734 students at a large public research university in the Northeast were examined. Results indicate that a substantial proportion of students reported having used prescription drugs for recreational purposes in the year prior to survey administration. Recreational prescription drug use was positively associated with the use of other substances including alcohol. Recreational prescription drug users were also more likely than other drug users to report negative consequences as a result of their drug use. Implications for future research and for student affairs are discussed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sinikka L. Kvamme ◽  
Michael M. Pedersen ◽  
Kristine Rømer Thomsen ◽  
Birgitte Thylstrup

Abstract Background The use of cannabis as medicine (CaM) both prescribed and non-prescribed has increased markedly in the last decade, mirrored in a global shift in cannabis policy towards a more permissive stance. There is some evidence that cannabis functions as a substitute for prescription drugs, particularly opioids; however, more knowledge is needed on the motives of substitution users, their patterns of use, and perceived effects of substitution use. Aims To explore who substitutes prescription drugs with cannabis, the type of prescription drugs substituted and the type of cannabis used, and the impact that substitution with cannabis has on prescription drug use as well as the motives for substitution in terms of experienced effects and side effects. Methods A self-selected convenience sample was recruited through social media, public media, and patient organizations to take part in an anonymous online survey. Inclusion criteria were 18 years or older and use of cannabis (prescribed or non-prescribed) with a medical purpose. Results The final sample included 2.841 respondents of which the majority (91%) used non-prescribed cannabis, and more than half (54.6%) had used CaM with the purpose of replacing a prescribed drug. Compared to non-substitution users, substitution users were more likely to be women and to use CaM in the treatment of chronic pain and other somatic conditions. Pain medication (67.2%), antidepressants (24.5%), and arthritis medication (20.7%) were the most common types of drugs replaced with CaM. Among substitution users, 38.1% reported termination of prescription drug use, and 45.9% a substantial decrease in prescription drug use. The most frequent type of cannabis used as a substitute was CBD-oil (65.2%), followed by ‘hash, pot or skunk’ (36.6%). More than half (65.8%) found CaM much more effective compared to prescription drugs, and 85.5% that the side effects associated with prescription drug use were much worse compared to use of CaM. Conclusion CaM is frequently used as a substitute for prescription drugs, particularly opioids. More research is needed on the long-term consequences of use of CaM, including the impact from low and high THC cannabis products on specific somatic and mental health conditions.


1995 ◽  
Vol 29 (6) ◽  
pp. 566-572 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kerstin Al Bingefors ◽  
Dag Gl Isacson ◽  
Lars Von Knorring ◽  
Björn Smedby

Objective: To analyze healthcare and prescription drug use among patients taking and those not taking antidepressant drugs in a Swedish community. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: General population of the rural Swedish municipality Tierp of approximately 20 000 inhabitants. Participants: All residents of Tierp aged 25 years or older during 1988. Main Outcome Measures: Mean number of ambulatory care visits, hospital bed days, and prescriptions per person; proportion of those taking prescription drugs in different pharmacologic classes. Results: Patients treated with antidepressant drugs had a significantly (p < 0.05) greater use of ambulatory care, hospital care, and prescription drugs than those who did not take antidepressants in the study population. They also had an increased frequency of use of prescription drugs from virtually all pharmacologic classes. Furthermore, the risk for polypharmacy was high in patients treated with antidepressant medications. Conclusions: Those who took antidepressant drugs consumed more health services and prescription drugs than did those not taking an antidepressant. Patients receiving antidepressant treatment may be at serious risk for iatrogenic disease and should be evaluated carefully with respect to concomitant drug use.


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