Zheng Dai1, Marie A Abate2, D Leann Long3, Gordon S Smith4, Theresa M Halki2, James C Kraner5, Allen R Mock5. 1. School of Public Health, West Virginia University, One Medical Center Drive, Morgantown, WV 26506, United States. Electronic address: zd0001@hsc.wvu.edu. 2. School of Pharmacy, West Virginia University, 1124 Health Sciences North, Morgantown, WV 26506, United States. 3. School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 327F Ryals Public Health Building, Birmingham, AL 35294, United States. 4. School of Public Health, West Virginia University, One Medical Center Drive, Morgantown, WV 26506, United States. 5. West Virginia Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, 619 Virginia Street West, Charleston, WV 25302, United States.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: To quantify how alcohol, polysubstance use and other factors influence opioid concentrations in drug-related deaths in West Virginia (WV), United States. METHODS: Multiple linear regression models were employed to identify relationships among alcohol, other factors, and the concentrations of four commonly identified opioids (fentanyl, hydrocodone, oxycodone, methadone), accounting for demographic, toxicological and comorbid characteristics in WV drug-related deaths from 2005 to 2018. RESULTS: Alcohol concentrations of 0.08% or above were associated with significant reductions in blood concentrations of fentanyl (27.5%), hydrocodone (30.5%) and methadone (32.4%). Significantly lower predicted concentrations of all opioids studied were associated with multiple opioid vs. single opioid presence, with predicted concentration reductions ranging from 13.7% for fentanyl to 65-66% for hydrocodone and oxycodone. Benzodiazepine presence was associated with small, non-statistically significant changes in opioid concentrations, while stimulant presence was associated with statistically significant reductions in hydrocodone and oxycodone concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: Co-ingestion of alcohol, multiple opioids or stimulants were associated with significantly decreased predicted concentrations of commonly identified opioids in drug deaths. Further evidence is provided for enhanced risks from polysubstance use with opioids, which has important public health implications.
BACKGROUND: To quantify how alcohol, polysubstance use and other factors influence opioid concentrations in drug-related deaths in West Virginia (WV), United States. METHODS: Multiple linear regression models were employed to identify relationships among alcohol, other factors, and the concentrations of four commonly identified opioids (fentanyl, hydrocodone, oxycodone, methadone), accounting for demographic, toxicological and comorbid characteristics in WV drug-related deaths from 2005 to 2018. RESULTS:Alcohol concentrations of 0.08% or above were associated with significant reductions in blood concentrations of fentanyl (27.5%), hydrocodone (30.5%) and methadone (32.4%). Significantly lower predicted concentrations of all opioids studied were associated with multiple opioid vs. single opioid presence, with predicted concentration reductions ranging from 13.7% for fentanyl to 65-66% for hydrocodone and oxycodone. Benzodiazepine presence was associated with small, non-statistically significant changes in opioid concentrations, while stimulant presence was associated with statistically significant reductions in hydrocodone and oxycodone concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: Co-ingestion of alcohol, multiple opioids or stimulants were associated with significantly decreased predicted concentrations of commonly identified opioids in drug deaths. Further evidence is provided for enhanced risks from polysubstance use with opioids, which has important public health implications.
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