Self-reported head trauma among Native Americans who inject methamphetamine: a cross-sectional study.

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Neuroscience
• Indigenous Health

Background:

• Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major public health issue with documented disparities in Native American populations.
• The syndemic interaction between TBI and substance use, particularly methamphetamine injection, is understudied in this demographic.
• Native Americans who inject methamphetamine face elevated risks for both TBI and substance use disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between self-reported TBI and substance use patterns in Native Americans who inject methamphetamine.
• To identify gender-specific risk factors for TBI within this population.
• To explore the role of lead exposure in TBI risk among methamphetamine-injecting Native Americans.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 60 Native Americans from the Fort Peck Tribes who reported methamphetamine injection.
• Data collection included questionnaires on TBI history, health conditions, substance use, and tibial lead (Pb) levels measured by X-ray fluorescence.
• Logistic regression analyses were used to examine associations between TBI and substance use, stratified by gender.

Main Results:

• The prevalence of self-reported lifetime TBI was 42%.
• In females, cumulative sedative and cocaine use correlated with increased TBI reports. In males, hypertension was a significant predictor of TBI.
• Elevated tibial lead levels were associated with a higher risk of TBI in both genders.

Conclusions:

• Findings confirm a syndemic relationship between substance use and TBI among Native Americans who inject methamphetamine.
• Gender-specific risk factors necessitate tailored intervention strategies.
• Increased representation of Native Americans in TBI research and integration of TBI screening into substance use programs are recommended.