Historique
Article de Périodique
Perceptions about fentanyl-adulterated heroin and overdose risk reduction behaviors among persons seeking treatment for heroin use (2019)
Auteur(s) :
STEIN, M. D. ;
KENNEY, S. R. ;
ANDERSON, B. J. ;
BAILEY, G. L.
Année
2019
Page(s) :
144-147
Langue(s) :
Anglais
Domaine :
Drogues illicites / Illicit drugs
Discipline :
EPI (Epidémiologie / Epidemiology)
Thésaurus géographique
ETATS-UNIS
Thésaurus mots-clés
FENTANYL
;
HEROINE
;
PERCEPTION
;
ADULTERANT
;
SURDOSE
;
REDUCTION DES RISQUES ET DES DOMMAGES
;
COMPORTEMENT
Résumé :
Background: Fentanyl-adulterated heroin supply chains are increasing risks for fatal overdose in the U.S.
Objective: The current study examined the use of overdose risk reduction behaviors among persons seeking treatment for heroin use and whether perceptions about the presence of fentanyl in one's heroin are associated with overdose risk reduction behaviors.
Method: We recruited persons with opioid use disorder entering a managed withdrawal program. We used multiple linear regression to estimate the adjusted associations of participant characteristics and perception of fentanyl exposure with the frequency of engaging in each of five overdose reduction behaviors.
Results: Participants (n = 239; 75.3% male, 81.2% White, 67% injectors) estimated that 69.2% of the heroin they use contains fentanyl, and 94.6% knew that fentanyl increases overdose risk. Approximately 30% of respondents reported usually or always making sure others are around when they use heroin, carrying naloxone, taking "tester" doses of heroin or intentionally using in reduced amounts. While a majority of the sample reported never carrying naloxone or taking tester doses, and 70.2% reported never making sure that others around them carry naloxone, 84.5% had implemented one or more behavior at least rarely. Past month injection drug use was associated with making sure others are around, but perceptions about fentanyl in one's heroin were not associated with use of harm reduction behaviors.
Conclusions: In this sample of people who use heroin, although overdose risk reduction behaviors were not usually used, a majority had tried at least one behavior. That perceived exposure to fentanyl-adulterated heroin was not associated with the use of such behaviors provides important implications for public health education and intervention programming.
Highlights:
Treatment-seeking heroin using participants estimated that most heroin they use (69.2%) contains fentanyl.
Nearly all (94.6%) participants knew that fentanyl increases overdose risk.
15.5% of participants reported never using any of the assessed overdose reduction behaviors.
A majority (84.5%) had used one or more behavior at least "rarely."
Beliefs about the presence of fentanyl in personal heroin supplies was not associated with frequency of individual overdose reduction behaviors.
Objective: The current study examined the use of overdose risk reduction behaviors among persons seeking treatment for heroin use and whether perceptions about the presence of fentanyl in one's heroin are associated with overdose risk reduction behaviors.
Method: We recruited persons with opioid use disorder entering a managed withdrawal program. We used multiple linear regression to estimate the adjusted associations of participant characteristics and perception of fentanyl exposure with the frequency of engaging in each of five overdose reduction behaviors.
Results: Participants (n = 239; 75.3% male, 81.2% White, 67% injectors) estimated that 69.2% of the heroin they use contains fentanyl, and 94.6% knew that fentanyl increases overdose risk. Approximately 30% of respondents reported usually or always making sure others are around when they use heroin, carrying naloxone, taking "tester" doses of heroin or intentionally using in reduced amounts. While a majority of the sample reported never carrying naloxone or taking tester doses, and 70.2% reported never making sure that others around them carry naloxone, 84.5% had implemented one or more behavior at least rarely. Past month injection drug use was associated with making sure others are around, but perceptions about fentanyl in one's heroin were not associated with use of harm reduction behaviors.
Conclusions: In this sample of people who use heroin, although overdose risk reduction behaviors were not usually used, a majority had tried at least one behavior. That perceived exposure to fentanyl-adulterated heroin was not associated with the use of such behaviors provides important implications for public health education and intervention programming.
Highlights:
Treatment-seeking heroin using participants estimated that most heroin they use (69.2%) contains fentanyl.
Nearly all (94.6%) participants knew that fentanyl increases overdose risk.
15.5% of participants reported never using any of the assessed overdose reduction behaviors.
A majority (84.5%) had used one or more behavior at least "rarely."
Beliefs about the presence of fentanyl in personal heroin supplies was not associated with frequency of individual overdose reduction behaviors.
Affiliation :
Behavioral Medicine Department, Butler Hospital, Providence, RI, USA