Amina Moustaqim-Barrette1, Kristi Papamihali2, Alexis Crabtree3, Brittany Graham4, Mohammad Karamouzian5, Jane A Buxton6. 1. British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, 655 W 12th Ave, V5Z 4R4, Vancouver, BC, Canada. Electronic address: Amina.moustaqim-barr@bccdc.ca. 2. British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, 655 W 12th Ave, V5Z 4R4, Vancouver, BC, Canada. Electronic address: Kristi.papamihali@bccdc.ca. 3. British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, 655 W 12th Ave, V5Z 4R4, Vancouver, BC, Canada; School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, 2206 E Mall, V6T 1Z8, Vancouver, BC, Canada. Electronic address: Alexis.crabtree@bccdc.ca. 4. British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, 655 W 12th Ave, V5Z 4R4, Vancouver, BC, Canada. Electronic address: Brittany.graham@bccdc.ca. 5. School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, 2206 E Mall, V6T 1Z8, Vancouver, BC, Canada; British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, 400-1045 Howe St, V6C 1A5, Vancouver, BC, Canada; HIV/STI Surveillance Research Center, and WHO Collaborating Center for HIV Surveillance, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran. Electronic address: Karamouzian.m@alumni.ubc.ca. 6. British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, 655 W 12th Ave, V5Z 4R4, Vancouver, BC, Canada; School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, 2206 E Mall, V6T 1Z8, Vancouver, BC, Canada. Electronic address: Jane.buxton@bccdc.ca.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: In response to North America's opioid crisis, access to naloxone has increased. However, our understanding of the correlates of possessing a naloxone kit is limited. This study seeks to determine the prevalence and correlates of kit possession among people who use drugs (PWUD) in British Columbia (BC) Canada. METHODS: This analysis used cross-sectional survey data collected in 2018 from 27 harm reduction sites in BC. Descriptive statistics and Poisson regression with robust error variance were used to examine factors associated with naloxone kit possession. RESULTS: Overall, 70.7% (n = 246) of the total sample (n = 348) reported having a naloxone kit. Having a kit was significantly associated with self-reported opioid use in comparison with non-opioid use (Adjusted Prevalence Ratio (APR): 2.39; 95% CI: 1.33-4.32). Those reporting 'injection' as their preferred drug administration method were also more likely to possess a kit compared to those that predominantly preferred inhalation, smoking, or snorting (APR: 2.39; 95% CI: 1.25-4.58). Urbanicity, age, gender, and having regular housing were not significantly associated with possessing a kit. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first to examine naloxone kit possession across geographies, including non-urban areas. Lower kit possession among those that preferred inhaling, smoking or snorting drugs may reflect misconceptions around overdose risk of non-injection drug administration. Our study supports the need for enhanced awareness around the risk of opioid overdose with non-injection administration and suggests a need for comprehensive public health messaging that aims to address overdose risk and response.
INTRODUCTION: In response to North America's opioid crisis, access to naloxone has increased. However, our understanding of the correlates of possessing a naloxone kit is limited. This study seeks to determine the prevalence and correlates of kit possession among people who use drugs (PWUD) in British Columbia (BC) Canada. METHODS: This analysis used cross-sectional survey data collected in 2018 from 27 harm reduction sites in BC. Descriptive statistics and Poisson regression with robust error variance were used to examine factors associated with naloxone kit possession. RESULTS: Overall, 70.7% (n = 246) of the total sample (n = 348) reported having a naloxone kit. Having a kit was significantly associated with self-reported opioid use in comparison with non-opioid use (Adjusted Prevalence Ratio (APR): 2.39; 95% CI: 1.33-4.32). Those reporting 'injection' as their preferred drug administration method were also more likely to possess a kit compared to those that predominantly preferred inhalation, smoking, or snorting (APR: 2.39; 95% CI: 1.25-4.58). Urbanicity, age, gender, and having regular housing were not significantly associated with possessing a kit. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first to examine naloxone kit possession across geographies, including non-urban areas. Lower kit possession among those that preferred inhaling, smoking or snorting drugs may reflect misconceptions around overdose risk of non-injection drug administration. Our study supports the need for enhanced awareness around the risk of opioid overdose with non-injection administration and suggests a need for comprehensive public health messaging that aims to address overdose risk and response.
Authors: Kristi Papamihali; Minha Yoon; Brittany Graham; Mohammad Karamouzian; Amanda K Slaunwhite; Vivian Tsang; Sara Young; Jane A Buxton Journal: Harm Reduct J Date: 2020-11-23
Authors: Amina Moustaqim-Barrette; Kristi Papamihali; Sierra Williams; Max Ferguson; Jessica Moe; Roy Purssell; Jane A Buxton Journal: PLoS One Date: 2021-10-29 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Abigail Steinberg; Amiti Mehta; Kristi Papamihali; Christine D Lukac; Sara Young; Brittany Graham; Kurt Lock; Mathew Fleury; Jane A Buxton Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2022-05-02 Impact factor: 3.006