TY - JOUR
T1 - Fentanyl Overdose Concerns Among People Who Inject Drugs
T2 - The Role of Sex, Racial Minority Status, and Overdose Prevention Efforts
AU - Jones, Abenaa Acheampong
AU - Schneider, Kristin E.
AU - Mahlobo, Christa T.
AU - Maggs, Jennifer L.
AU - Dayton, Lauren
AU - Tobin, Karin E.
AU - Latkin, Carl A.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 American Psychological Association
PY - 2022/5/5
Y1 - 2022/5/5
N2 - Objective: People who inject drugs (PWID) have an elevated risk of fentanyl-related overdoses. This study explores fentanyl overdose concerns among PWID and the role of sex, racial minority status, and overdose prevention efforts in these concerns. Method: Data were from 498 PWID from Baltimore City, MD, recruited using street-based outreach between 2016 and 2019. Multinomial logistic regressions assessed correlates of participants’ level of concern for themselves and their peers overdosing from fentanyl. Results: A third of participants were female, half were Black, over two-thirds perceived fentanyl to be in all/most of heroin, 40% expressed low fentanyl overdose concern, and a third overdosed in the past 6 months. After controlling for sociodemographic characteristics, female sex was associated with being very concerned about fentanyl overdoses for oneself (adjusted relative risk [aRR]: 2.13; 95% CI: 1.22, 3.72) and peers (aRR: 1.98; 95% CI: 1.14, 3.45). Compared to Black participants, White participants were less likely to be very concerned about fentanyl overdoses for themselves (aRR: 0.35; 95% CI: 0.19, 0.65). Participants who often/always carried naloxone (aRR: 2.91; 95%CI: 1.42, 5.95) perceived fentanyl in most heroin (aRR: 2.78; 95% CI: 1.29, 5.97) or were on medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) (quite a bit concerned aRR: 2.18; 95% CI: 1.28, 3.69; very concerned: aRR: 1.96; 95% CI: 1.19, 3.22) were more likely than their counterparts to report being concerned for their peers, but not for themselves. Conclusion: Female sex and racial minority status were associated with greater concern regarding fentanyl overdoses for oneself. Increasing overdose deaths in these populations suggests disparate access to harm-reduction initiatives rather than interest or concern. Furthermore, findings on naloxone,MOUD, and concerns for peers support social network-based interventions among PWID.
AB - Objective: People who inject drugs (PWID) have an elevated risk of fentanyl-related overdoses. This study explores fentanyl overdose concerns among PWID and the role of sex, racial minority status, and overdose prevention efforts in these concerns. Method: Data were from 498 PWID from Baltimore City, MD, recruited using street-based outreach between 2016 and 2019. Multinomial logistic regressions assessed correlates of participants’ level of concern for themselves and their peers overdosing from fentanyl. Results: A third of participants were female, half were Black, over two-thirds perceived fentanyl to be in all/most of heroin, 40% expressed low fentanyl overdose concern, and a third overdosed in the past 6 months. After controlling for sociodemographic characteristics, female sex was associated with being very concerned about fentanyl overdoses for oneself (adjusted relative risk [aRR]: 2.13; 95% CI: 1.22, 3.72) and peers (aRR: 1.98; 95% CI: 1.14, 3.45). Compared to Black participants, White participants were less likely to be very concerned about fentanyl overdoses for themselves (aRR: 0.35; 95% CI: 0.19, 0.65). Participants who often/always carried naloxone (aRR: 2.91; 95%CI: 1.42, 5.95) perceived fentanyl in most heroin (aRR: 2.78; 95% CI: 1.29, 5.97) or were on medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) (quite a bit concerned aRR: 2.18; 95% CI: 1.28, 3.69; very concerned: aRR: 1.96; 95% CI: 1.19, 3.22) were more likely than their counterparts to report being concerned for their peers, but not for themselves. Conclusion: Female sex and racial minority status were associated with greater concern regarding fentanyl overdoses for oneself. Increasing overdose deaths in these populations suggests disparate access to harm-reduction initiatives rather than interest or concern. Furthermore, findings on naloxone,MOUD, and concerns for peers support social network-based interventions among PWID.
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U2 - 10.1037/adb0000834
DO - 10.1037/adb0000834
M3 - Article
C2 - 35511529
AN - SCOPUS:85130618782
SN - 0893-164X
VL - 37
SP - 191
EP - 198
JO - Psychology of Addictive Behaviors
JF - Psychology of Addictive Behaviors
IS - 2
ER -