Kanna Hayashi1,2, Evan Wood1,3, Huiru Dong1,4, Jane A Buxton4,5, Nadia Fairbairn1,3, Kora DeBeck1,6, M-J Milloy1,3, Thomas Kerr1,3. 1. British Columbia Centre on Substance Use, Vancouver, Canada. 2. Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, Canada. 3. Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. 4. School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. 5. British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, Canada. 6. School of Public Policy, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, Canada.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Illicitly manufactured fentanyl continues to fuel the opioid overdose crisis throughout the USA and Canada. However, little is known about factors associated with knowingly or unknowingly using fentanyl. Therefore, we sought to identify the prevalence and correlates of suspected/known and unknown exposure to fentanyl (excluding the prescribed one) among people who inject drugs (PWID), including associated overdose risks. METHODS: Data were derived from three prospective cohort studies of community-recruited people who use drugs in Vancouver, Canada in 2016-2017. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify correlates of suspected/known exposure (i.e. urine drug screen positive and self-reporting past 3-day exposure) and unknown exposure to fentanyl (i.e. urine drug screen positive and self-reporting no past three-day exposure), respectively. RESULTS: Among 590 PWID, 296 (50.2%) tested positive for fentanyl. Of those, 143 (48.3%) had suspected/known and 153 (51.7%) had unknown exposure to fentanyl. In multivariable analyses, using supervised injection sites and possessing naloxone were associated with both suspected/known and unknown exposure (all P < 0.05). Injecting drugs alone (adjusted odds ratio 3.26; 95% confidence interval: 1.72-6.16) was associated with known exposure, but not with unknown exposure. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: We found a high prevalence of fentanyl exposure in our sample of PWID, with one half of those exposed consuming fentanyl unknowingly. While those exposed to fentanyl appeared more likely to utilise some overdose prevention services, PWID with suspected/known fentanyl exposure were more likely to inject alone, indicating a need for additional overdose prevention efforts for this group.
INTRODUCTION: Illicitly manufactured fentanyl continues to fuel the opioid overdose crisis throughout the USA and Canada. However, little is known about factors associated with knowingly or unknowingly using fentanyl. Therefore, we sought to identify the prevalence and correlates of suspected/known and unknown exposure to fentanyl (excluding the prescribed one) among people who inject drugs (PWID), including associated overdose risks. METHODS: Data were derived from three prospective cohort studies of community-recruited people who use drugs in Vancouver, Canada in 2016-2017. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify correlates of suspected/known exposure (i.e. urine drug screen positive and self-reporting past 3-day exposure) and unknown exposure to fentanyl (i.e. urine drug screen positive and self-reporting no past three-day exposure), respectively. RESULTS: Among 590 PWID, 296 (50.2%) tested positive for fentanyl. Of those, 143 (48.3%) had suspected/known and 153 (51.7%) had unknown exposure to fentanyl. In multivariable analyses, using supervised injection sites and possessing naloxone were associated with both suspected/known and unknown exposure (all P < 0.05). Injecting drugs alone (adjusted odds ratio 3.26; 95% confidence interval: 1.72-6.16) was associated with known exposure, but not with unknown exposure. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: We found a high prevalence of fentanyl exposure in our sample of PWID, with one half of those exposed consuming fentanyl unknowingly. While those exposed to fentanyl appeared more likely to utilise some overdose prevention services, PWID with suspected/known fentanyl exposure were more likely to inject alone, indicating a need for additional overdose prevention efforts for this group.
Authors: Hawre Jalal; Jeanine M Buchanich; Mark S Roberts; Lauren C Balmert; Kun Zhang; Donald S Burke Journal: Science Date: 2018-09-21 Impact factor: 47.728
Authors: Bradley M Mathers; Louisa Degenhardt; Chiara Bucello; James Lemon; Lucas Wiessing; Mathew Hickman Journal: Bull World Health Organ Date: 2013-02-01 Impact factor: 9.408