Reported xylazine exposure highly associated with overdose outcomes in a rapid community assessment among people who inject drugs in Baltimore.
Harm Reduct J
; 21(1): 18, 2024 01 22.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38254198
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Addressing xylazine harms are now a critical harm reduction priority, but relatively little epidemiological information exists to determine prevalence, magnitude, and correlates of xylazine use or related outcomes.METHODS:
We conducted a rapid behavioral survey among people who inject drugs (n = 96) in Baltimore November-December 2022. Using a novel indicator of self-reported presumed xylazine effects, we examined prevalence and sociodemographic correlates of past year presumed xylazine effects and association with overdose and wound-related outcomes. Chi-square and descriptive statistics were used to examine bivariate associations overall and separately for those who reported xylazine by name and by reported fentanyl use frequency.RESULTS:
Almost two-thirds (61.5%) reported experiencing xylazine effects. There were no differences by socio-demographics, but xylazine effects were more commonly reported among those who reported injecting alone (66% vs 38%%, p < 0.007) and daily fentanyl use (47% vs 24% p < 0.003). Those reporting xylazine exposure was three times as likely to report overdose (32% vs 11%, p < 0.03) and twice as likely to have used naloxone (78% vs 46%, p < 0.003). They also more commonly reported knowing someone who died of an overdose (92% vs 76%, p < 0.09) and to report an abscess requiring medical attention (36% vs 19%, p < 0.80). These associations were higher among respondents who specifically named xylazine and those who used fentanyl more frequently, but fentanyl frequency did not fully explain the heightened associations with xylazine effects.CONCLUSIONS:
This study provides insight into the scope of xylazine exposure and associated health concerns among community-based PWID and suggests measures that may be instrumental for urgently needed research.Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Consumidores de Drogas
/
Sobredosis de Droga
Tipo de estudio:
Risk_factors_studies
Límite:
Humans
País/Región como asunto:
America do norte
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Harm Reduct J
Año:
2024
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Estados Unidos