Correlates of Rural Naloxone Possession Among People Who Use Drugs: A Multi-State Cross-Sectional Analysis
P Quincy Moore1, L Sarah Mixson2, Rebecca Bolinski3
1Department of Emergency Medicine, The Permanente Medical Group, Oakland, California, USA.
Summary
Only 36% of rural people who use drugs (PWUD) possessed naloxone, despite its proven ability to reduce opioid overdose deaths. Factors like injection drug use and overdose history were linked to higher possession rates, indicating a need for targeted distribution.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Substance Use Research
Background:
- Naloxone is critical for reducing opioid overdose mortality.
- Rural populations who use drugs (PWUD) face unique barriers to naloxone access.
- Legislative efforts have aimed to increase naloxone availability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine naloxone possession rates among rural PWUD.
- To identify correlates of naloxone possession in this population.
- To inform targeted naloxone distribution strategies.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional analysis of Rural Opioid Initiative (ROI) data.
- Survey data from 3048 PWUD in rural areas across ten US states (2018-2020).
- Descriptive statistics, bivariate analyses, and multivariable prevalence ratios were used.
Main Results:
- 36.4% of rural PWUD reported current naloxone possession.
- Naloxone possession associated with younger age, illegal income, recent opioid use, overdose history, witnessing overdose, and syringe service program (SSP) use.
- No association found between naloxone possession and access to care.
Conclusions:
- Low naloxone possession (36%) among high-risk rural PWUD.
- Injection drug use, overdose history, and SSP access are key correlates of possession.
- Targeted naloxone distribution is crucial for rural PWUD, addressing specific barriers.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:17Drug Dependence
Medications are typically administered to achieve therapeutic effects. Some drugs can modify an individual's mood and perception, frequently resulting in various enjoyable experiences. However, this can result in drug dependency, a condition marked by continuous drug use despite potential negative consequences. Drug dependency primarily falls into two categories: psychological and physical dependence. Psychological dependence occurs when the pleasurable feelings induced by the drug...
01:15Drug Abuse and Addiction: Pharmacological Phenomena
Drug dependence, abuse, and addiction are complex phenomena that can precipitate various abnormal states. Physical dependence refers to a state of pharmacological adaptation to a drug. This adaptation often results in tolerance—a reduced response to the drug after repeated administrations. When the drug use is abruptly stopped, withdrawal symptoms occur due to the body's need to readjust from the pharmacologically induced imbalance. However, tolerance and withdrawal symptoms do not necessarily...
01:20Opioid Analgesics: Morphine and Other Natural Cogeners
Opioids are a class of drugs that mimic endogenous opioid peptides and act on opioid receptors, and help in pain relief. These compounds are classified as natural, synthetic, or semi-synthetic. Natural opioids, like morphine, codeine, and thebaine, are derived from the opium poppy plant (Papaver somniferum or Papaver album) and are termed opiates. Synthetic opioids are artificial, while semi-synthetic opioids combine natural and synthetic compounds. Morphine, a prototypical opioid, possesses a...
01:12Analysis of Population Pharmacokinetic Data
Analysis of population pharmacokinetic data involves studying the behavior of drugs within diverse populations to understand their pharmacokinetic parameters. Traditional pharmacokinetic methods typically involve collecting samples from a few individuals and estimating these parameters. While these methods are commonly used, they have limitations in capturing the variability in drug response among individuals or heterogeneous populations. Population pharmacokinetics is employed to address these...
01:27Combined Effects of Drugs: Synergism
Synergism is a useful mechanism where combining two or more drugs is more effective than each constituent used alone. Such combinations are also called supra-additive interactions. The drugs collectively enhance the final therapeutic effect by acting on different targets. Another advantage is that the low dose of each constituent drug is sufficient to achieve the desired effect. This helps reduce the duration of therapy and lower the adverse effects of these drugs.
Such synergistic combinations...
Such synergistic combinations...
01:15Drug Concentration Versus Time Correlation
The plasma drug concentration-time curve is a crucial tool in pharmacokinetics, representing the drug's concentration in plasma at different time intervals post-administration. This curve illustrates the drug's journey from absorption into the systemic circulation, distribution to body tissues, and eventual elimination through excretion or biotransformation.
Two pivotal parameters are the minimum effective concentration (MEC) and the minimum toxic concentration (MTC). The MEC is the lowest drug...
Two pivotal parameters are the minimum effective concentration (MEC) and the minimum toxic concentration (MTC). The MEC is the lowest drug...