Purposeful Fentanyl Use and Associated Factors among Opioid-Dependent People Who Inject Drugs

Chandra, Divya K; Altice, Frederick L.; Copenhaver, Michael; Zhou, Xin; DiDomizio, Elizabeth; Shrestha, Roman

doi:10.1080/10826084.2021.1901931

Cited by 11 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 35 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…While polysubstance use, including intentional fentanyl use, and rates of overdose have been well-documented in people on MOUD [16][17][18], this study was novel in finding a high willingness (85%) to use FTS among this population. A large percentage of participants in this study had either witnessed, known someone, or overdosed themselves; however, a much lower percentage reported knowledge about FTS or knowing where to access them.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 87%

Fentanyl Test Strip Use and Overdose History among Individuals on Medication for Opioid Use Disorder

Mistler

Rosen

Eger

et al. 2021

AustinJPublicHealthEpidemiol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: The number of deaths from drug overdose in the United States has more than doubled in the past decade. In particular, drug overdose deaths involving fentanyl have doubled every year since 2013. Rapid fentanyl test strips (FTS) are a useful strategy for detecting traces of fentanyl in substances and have received overwhelming support from individuals with opioid-dependence. Methods: We investigated fentanyl use, knowledge of FTS, willingness to use FTS, and overdose history among a sample of 105 individuals currently on medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD). Results: Results showed that the majority (63%) of the sample had experienced a non-fatal overdose and that 85% of participants were willing to use FTS. The majority of participants reported concern about fentanyl in their drug supply (70%) and 77% reported likelihood of past unintentional fentanyl use. Of note, only about half (47%) of participants knew of FTS prior to being surveyed, and only 17% reported ever using FTS. Conclusion: These results expand on previous literature that documents high levels of willingness, yet low uptake of FTS among individuals on MOUD. Widespread education about FTS, in addition to the implementation of the use of FTS, is a highly promising and critical primary prevention alternative to overdose treatment and/or death due to fentanyl.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 87%

Fentanyl Test Strip Use and Overdose History among Individuals on Medication for Opioid Use Disorder

Mistler

Rosen

Eger

et al. 2021

AustinJPublicHealthEpidemiol

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Among studies comparing intentional fentanyl using cohorts with non-intentional fentanyl substance using cohorts, individuals who intentionally use fentanyl were more likely to be male and young ( 17 , 23 , 28 , 40 ). In Krause et al., 2017, it was reported that a significant difference was found between younger age and fentanyl consumption (p=0·003) ( 46 ).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Educational attainment was reported in eight of 19 studies which did not distinguish fentanyl use and other substance use ( Table 2 ) ( 16 , 18 , 21 , 27 , 31 – 33 , 49 ). Three studies in the group comparing intentional fentanyl using cohorts with non-intentional fentanyl using cohorts ( Table 4 ) and one study in the intentional fentanyl use only group ( Table 3 ) reported educational attainment as a socioeconomic characteristic ( 17 , 22 , 24 , 26 ). In Macmadu et al., 2017, the group of individuals with intentional fentanyl-contaminated heroin use also had a lower proportion who had attained education beyond high school ( 24 ).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Among six studies in the group comparing intentional fentanyl using cohorts with non-intentional fentanyl using cohorts, it was reported that individuals who intentionally used fentanyl were more commonly homeless and experiencing unstable housing ( Table 4 ) ( 17 , 23 , 24 , 28 , 39 ). However only three studies demonstrated this association to be significant ( 17 , 24 , 39 ).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Systematic review on intentional non-medical fentanyl use among people who use drugs

Tsang,

Wong,

Westenberg

et al. 2024

Front. Psychiatry

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

ObjectivesFentanyl is a highly potent opioid and has, until recently, been considered an unwanted contaminant in the street drug supply among people who use drugs (PWUD). However, it has become a drug of choice for an increasing number of individuals. This systematic review evaluated intentional non-medical fentanyl use among PWUD, specifically by summarizing demographic variance, reasons for use, and resulting patterns of use.MethodsThe search strategy was developed with a combination of free text keywords and MeSH and non-MeSH keywords, and adapted with database-specific filters to Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, and PsychINFO. Studies included were human studies with intentional use of non-medical fentanyl or analogues in individuals older than 13. Only peer-reviewed original articles available in English were included.ResultsThe search resulted in 4437 studies after de-duplication, of which 132 were selected for full-text review. Out of 41 papers included, it was found that individuals who use fentanyl intentionally were more likely to be young, male, and White. They were also more likely to have experienced overdoses, and report injection drug use. There is evidence that fentanyl seeking behaviours are motivated by greater potency, delay of withdrawal, lower cost, and greater availability.ConclusionsAmong PWUD, individuals who intentionally use fentanyl have severe substance use patterns, precarious living situations, and extensive overdose history. In response to the increasing number of individuals who use fentanyl, alternative treatment approaches need to be developed for more effective management of withdrawal and opioid use disorder.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier CRD42021272111.

show abstract

“…Moreover, fentanyl is commonly mixed with cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, and other illicit drugs among addicts. Over 40% of opioid-dependent people who inject drugs report lifetime purposeful fentanyl use, which is independently correlated with younger age, recent daily injection, and moderate/severe depression [ 3 ]. In the United States, urine drug test data has shown that positivity rates for non-prescribed fentanyl increased 1850% (from 0.9% in 2013 to 17.6% in 2018) among cocaine-positive samples and increased 798% (from 0.9% in 2013 to 7.9% in 2018) among methamphetamine-positive samples [ 4 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unique Pharmacology, Brain Dysfunction, and Therapeutic Advancements for Fentanyl Misuse and Abuse

et al. 2022

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Fentanyl is a fully synthetic opioid with analgesic and anesthetic properties. It has become a primary driver of the deadliest opioid crisis in the United States and elsewhere, consequently imposing devastating social, economic, and health burdens worldwide. However, the neural mechanisms that underlie the behavioral effects of fentanyl and its analogs are largely unknown, and approaches to prevent fentanyl abuse and fentanyl-related overdose deaths are scarce. This review presents the abuse potential and unique pharmacology of fentanyl and elucidates its potential mechanisms of action, including neural circuit dysfunction and neuroinflammation. We discuss recent progress in the development of pharmacological interventions, anti-fentanyl vaccines, anti-fentanyl/heroin conjugate vaccines, and monoclonal antibodies to attenuate fentanyl-seeking and prevent fentanyl-induced respiratory depression. However, translational studies and clinical trials are still lacking. Considering the present opioid crisis, the development of effective pharmacological and immunological strategies to prevent fentanyl abuse and overdose are urgently needed.

show abstract

Purposeful Fentanyl Use and Associated Factors among Opioid-Dependent People Who Inject Drugs

Cited by 11 publications

References 35 publications

Fentanyl Test Strip Use and Overdose History among Individuals on Medication for Opioid Use Disorder

Fentanyl Test Strip Use and Overdose History among Individuals on Medication for Opioid Use Disorder

Systematic review on intentional non-medical fentanyl use among people who use drugs

Unique Pharmacology, Brain Dysfunction, and Therapeutic Advancements for Fentanyl Misuse and Abuse

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About