Exploring disparities in overdose fatalities and naloxone administration

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Health Disparities

Background:

• Drug overdose is a critical public health issue in the US, with rising fatalities impacting minority communities.
• This study investigates racial disparities in naloxone administration for drug overdose fatalities in Arizona (2019-2023).

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine racial and ethnic differences in naloxone administration among individuals who died from drug overdose.
• To identify factors, including stimulant involvement, that may moderate these disparities.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the Arizona State Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System (AZ-SUDORS).
• Employed multivariable logistic regression with multiple imputation to analyze naloxone administration odds across racial groups.
• Included interaction terms to assess the role of stimulant involvement in racial disparities.

Main Results:

• Opioids were present in 76.9% of 10,135 overdose deaths; naloxone was administered in 26.1%.
• Hispanic and American Indian individuals were more likely to receive naloxone than non-Hispanic whites.
• Black individuals received naloxone more often when stimulants were not involved, highlighting complex racial patterns.

Conclusions:

• Significant racial disparities in emergency overdose response, particularly naloxone administration, were identified.
• Stimulant involvement moderates naloxone access, indicating a need for tailored public health interventions.
• Equitable overdose response requires addressing drug combinations and racialized overdose patterns.