Perception of Risk of Harm from Cannabis Use Among Women of Reproductive Age with Disabilities.

Objectives: To examine perceived risk of harm from weekly cannabis use among reproductive-aged women with disabilities. Methods: Using data from the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, we assessed perceived risk of harm associated with weekly cannabis use among women of reproductive age by disability status. Disabilities included sensory, cognitive, and those related to daily activities. Logistic regression was employed to examine correlates of risk perception associated with weekly cannabis in this subpopulation of women. Results: A significantly higher percentage of women with any disability perceived no risk associated with weekly cannabis use (37.9%) compared to those with no disabilities (26.1%). Approximately, 60.0% of women with disabilities who used cannabis in the past 12 months perceived no risk of harm from weekly cannabis use. Overall, women with disabilities and cannabis use in the past 12 months had higher adjusted odds (AOR=2.90, 95% CI=2.10-4.10) of perceiving no risk associated with weekly use of cannabis compared to women without any disability and no cannabis use. Other significant factors associated with an increased likelihood of perceiving no risk of harm from weekly use of cannabis included younger women, having higher income, being in good health, and using alcohol or tobacco. Conclusions: Perceived risk of harm associated with weekly cannabis use is particularly low among women with disabilities who use cannabis. Given current attitudes toward cannabis as a harmless drug, and the potential adverse health outcomes, it is imperative to monitor and understand women's perceptions of risk of harm from cannabis use for clinical guidance, provider and patient education, and public health programs to support evidence-based approaches in addressing its use among vulnerable populations such as those of reproductive age with disabilities.

Assessing the Impact of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services Policy Guidance on Part D Prescriptions Among Hospice Patients.

Hospice care facilities are required to provide prescription drugs related to a hospice patient's terminal illness. From October 2010 to present, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued a series of communications regarding Medicare paying for hospice patients' prescription drugs under Part D that should be covered under the hospice Medicare Part A benefit. On April 4, 2011, CMS issued specific policy guidance to providers aimed at preventing inappropriate billing. While CMS has documented Part D prescription decreases in hospice patients, no research exists that connects these decreases and the policy guidance. This study aims to evaluate the effect of the April 4, 2011, policy guidance on hospice patients' Part D prescriptions. This study employed generalized estimating equations to assess (1) total monthly average prescriptions of all medications and (2) four categories of commonly prescribed hospice medications in pre-and-post policy guidance. This research used the Medicare claims of 113,260 Part D-enrolled Medicare male patients aged 66 and older between April 2009 and March 2013, including 110,547 non-hospice patients and 2713 hospice patients. Hospice patients' monthly average total Part D prescriptions decreased from 7.3 pre-policy guidance to 6.5 medications following the issuing of the guidance, while the four categories of hospice-specific medications decreased from .57 to .49. The findings of this study show that CMS's guidance issued to providers to prevent the inappropriate billing of hospice patients' prescriptions to the Part D benefit may lead to Part D prescription decreases as observed in this sample.

Are Health Care Providers Caring for Pregnant and Postpartum Women Ready to Confront the Perinatal Cannabis Use Challenge?

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess health care providers' knowledge and practices related to cannabis use among pregnant and postpartum women. STUDY DESIGN: A survey of health care providers (n = 75 responders) was conducted across four main regions in the state of Virginia to assess knowledge of adverse health effects associated with perinatal cannabis use, screening tools, follow-up for positive screening, barriers to having discussions about cannabis use, and treatment among pregnant and postpartum women. RESULTS: An astonishing 34.7% of the providers surveyed responded as not being aware of the impacts of cannabis use on the health of the mother and infant, and 66.7% of them reported that they would like some training on feeling comfortable with their knowledge about the impact of perinatal cannabis use on the population they are serving. When asked about providing resources and/or patient education related to cannabis use during pregnancy and/or breastfeeding, 62.7% reported they did not but they would be interested in providing both resources and education. Over one-third of the providers did not have a follow-up process for positive screening. In addition, numerous barriers to asking/screening and/or discussing cannabis use and potential harm reduction methods for the pregnant and postpartum populations emerged such as inadequate or lack of resources for positive screening, lack of knowledge on the topic, unsure about the policies of reporting a positive screening, etc. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study indicate that health care providers caring for pregnant and postpartum women are not equipped to make appropriate recommendations to patients and guide them through decision-making. Health care providers caring for pregnant and postpartum women need to be knowledgeable on how to best support patients with cannabis use for effective counseling and guidance due to health risks. State policies and resources are needed to ensure training for clinicians on perinatal cannabis. KEY POINTS: · Providers are not knowledgeable about perinatal cannabis.. · Providers lack resources and do not have a follow-up process.. · Providers would like to receive training on the impact of perinatal cannabis on health outcomes..

Trends in Cigarette Smoking Among United States Adolescents.

Background: Cigarette smoking remains the leading avoidable cause of premature death in the United States, accounting for approximately 500,000, or 1 in 5, deaths annually. We explored trends in cigarette smoking among US adolescents. Methods: We used data for adolescents in grades 9 through 12 from 1991 to 2021 from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey provided by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We explored trends overall as well as by sex, race/ethnicity, and school grade. Results: All cigarette use-assessed as ever, occasional, frequent, or daily-among adolescents declined markedly from 1991 to 2021. Specifically, ever use significantly decreased from 70.1% in 1991 to 17.8% in 2021 (P<0.05), an almost 4-fold decline. Occasional use significantly decreased from 27.5% in 1991 to 3.8% in 2021 (P<0.05), a greater than 7-fold decline. Frequent use significantly decreased from 12.7% to 0.7%, a greater than 18-fold decline. Daily use declined from 9.8% in 1991 to 0.6% in 2021, a greater than 16-fold decline. Cigarette smoking significantly decreased from 1999 to 2021 across sex, race/ethnicity, and school grade (P<0.05). In 2021, daily use was higher in boys vs girls; Hispanic/Latino and White youth vs Black and Asian youth; and 12th graders vs 9th, 10th, and 11th graders. Conclusion: These data show large and significant decreases in cigarette use among US adolescents in high school grades 9 through 12 from 1991 to 2021. Nonetheless, the data also suggest residual clinical and public health challenges that will require targeted interventions.

Perspectives of homeless veterans living with substance use disorders (SUD) and mental illness.

Upon returning home from the military, America's veterans face complex challenges such as homelessness and substance use disorders (SUD). Veterans who have experienced SUDs and homelessness are more likely to struggle with depression and suicidal behaviors. This study aims to understand homeless veterans' lived experiences of their everyday life and social interactions. We used semi-structured interviews to conduct a phenomenological study of 14 homeless veterans with known SUDs living in the Baltimore-Washington D.C. Metropolitan area. A Social-Ecological Model (SEM) was used to create themes, a priori, then used open coding analytic methods to identify emerging themes. Two-thirds of veterans used illicit drugs or abused alcohol, and nearly all reported a history of depression or anxiety. Suicidal behaviors were present in a third of all veterans. We found that veteran homelessness and substance use are strongly associated with emotional and physical trauma suffered while on active duty. Consequently, once homeless, a veteran's community may encourage and exacerbate SUDs, thus impeding a path toward sobriety. Homeless veterans who have struggled with SUDs and later experience a death in their family often relapse to substance use. Deeply exploring a veteran's relationships with family, friends, and their immediate community may reveal opportunities to address these issues using healthcare and community interventions.

Racial/ethnic differences in medication for addiction treatment for opioid use disorders among pregnant women in treatment facilities supported by state funds.

INTRODUCTION: Medication for addiction treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder (OUD) in pregnant women is known to improve neonatal health outcomes. Despite the benefits of this evidence-based treatment for OUD, MAT has been underutilized during pregnancy among certain racial/ethnic groups of women in the United States. The purpose of this study was to examine racial/ethnic differences and factors that affect MAT administration among pregnant women with OUD seeking treatment at publicly funded facilities. METHODS: We used data from the 2010-2019 Treatment Episode Data Set system. The analytic sample included 15,777 pregnant women with OUD. We built logistic regression models to examine associations between race/ethnicity and MAT and determine differences and similarities in factors that may influence the use of MAT across racial/ethnic groups of pregnant women with OUD. RESULTS: Although in this sample only 31.6 % received MAT, an increasing trend of MAT receipt has been observed during 2010-2019. Approximately 44 % of the Hispanic pregnant women received MAT, and this was significantly higher than non-Hispanic Black (27.1 %) and White (31.3 %) women. Even after adjusting for potential confounders, the adjusted odds of receiving MAT during pregnancy were lower for Black (AOR = 0.57, 95 % CI 0.44, 0.75) and White (AOR = 0.75, 95 % CI 0.61, 0.91) women compared to Hispanic women. Not being in the labor force increased the odds of receiving MAT in Hispanic women relative to their employed counterparts while homelessness or dependent living decreased the odds of MAT for White women compared to those living independently. Regardless of their racial/ethnic background, pregnant women younger than 29 years old were less likely to receive MAT relative to older women; however, if they were arrested once prior to admission to treatment, they had significantly higher odds of receiving MAT than those with no arrests. Treatment of at least 7 months was associated with a higher likelihood of MAT across all racial/ethnic groups. CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the underutilization of MAT, particularly among pregnant Black and White women who seek treatment for OUD in publicly funded treatment facilities. A multi-dimensional approach to MAT intervention programs is needed to increase MAT for all pregnant women and reduce racial/ethnic inequities.

Treatment outcomes among pregnant women with cannabis use disorder.

Cannabis use disorder (CUD) among pregnant women is on the rise in the United States. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists have recommended against the use of cannabis during pregnancy and breastfeeding. However, limited research exists on CUD treatment in this vulnerable population. The purpose of this study was to examine factors that influence CUD treatment completion in pregnant women. Data from the 2010-2019 Treatment Episode Data Set-Discharges (TEDS-D) were used (n = 7,319 pregnant women who reported CUD and had no prior treatment history). Descriptive statistics, logistic regression, and classification tree analyses were conducted to assess treatment outcomes. Only 30.3% of the sample completed CUD treatment. Length of stay between 4 and 12 months was associated with a higher likelihood of CUD treatment completion. The odds of treatment completion were higher if the referral source was alcohol/drug use care provider (AOR = 1.60, 95% CI [1.01, 2.54]), other community referral (AOR = 1.65, 95% CI [1.38, 1.97]), and the court/criminal justice (AOR = 2.29, 95% CI [1.92, 2.72]) relative to being referred by individual/self. A relatively high proportion of CUD treatment completion (52%) was observed among pregnant women who had > 1 month of CUD treatment and were referred to the treatment program by the criminal justice system. For pregnant women, referrals from the justice system, community, and healthcare providers can increase the likelihood of successful CUD treatment outcomes. Developing targeted CUD treatments for pregnant populations is crucial due to increasing CUD rates, cannabis accessibility, and potency.

Prescription Opioid Misuse and Suicidal Behaviors Among US Veterans: A Cross-Sectional Study from the 2015-2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.

Suicide continues to be a serious public health issue for the US veteran population as its prevalence has skyrocketed over the last 15 years. This cross-sectional study estimates the prevalence of suicidal behaviors and prescription opioid misuse among veterans and identifies associations between suicidal behaviors and misuse of prescription opioids using data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. The findings show that approximately 3.7% of all veterans in this sample experienced suicidal behaviors, while nearly 3.0% reported misusing prescription opioids. Veterans who misused prescription opioids had a much higher prevalence of suicidal behaviors (16.3%) than veterans who used prescription opioids without misuse (4.8%) and those who did not use prescription opioids at all (2.5%). Opioid misuse is strongly associated with suicidal behaviors among veterans. Immediate substance use and mental health screenings, upon first contact with a healthcare system, are imperative in preventing and reducing suicide rates within this vulnerable population.

E-cigarette use during pregnancy and its association with adverse birth outcomes in the US.

The popularity of e-cigarette use among young adults is a growing concern. However, little is known about factors associated with e-cigarette use in pregnant women and birth outcomes. In this retrospective cohort study, we evaluated the influence of several factors on behavioral changes in e-cigarette use before and during pregnancy, and assessed the association between e-cigarette use and subsequent birth outcomes among pregnant women. The Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) study, a government-sponsored national longitudinal study based in the US, Waves 1 through 4 (2013-2018) were used. Multivariate logistic regressions were conducted to estimate behavioral changes in e-cigarette use during pregnancy and subsequent influence on high-risk birth (e.g., preterm birth, low birth weight, birth defects, etc.) and fetal death. Although pregnant women who quit vaping before pregnancy (OR = 1.14, 95% CI 0.54-2.40) or had any use during pregnancy (OR = 1.19, 95% CI 0.38-3.73) showed non-differential risk of having a high-risk birth in comparison to women who did not initiate vaping, we observed that the usage of mint/menthol flavor was correlated with higher risk of fetus death (OR = 3.27, 95% CI 1.17-9.19). Healthcare providers should encourage e-cigarette users to quit prior to and during early pregnancy.

Sexually Transmitted Infections in Women of Reproductive Age by Disability Type.

INTRODUCTION: The objectives of this study were to estimate the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections in women of reproductive age by disability type and examine the association between disability types, participant characteristics, and the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). METHODS: Pooled data from 2015 to 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health were analyzed in 2022. The analytic sample included 90,233 women of reproductive age (18-49 years). Disability was defined as having any sensory, cognitive, physical, or ≥2 disabilities.. A total of 15% of women reported having a disability. Descriptive analyses were used to estimate the prevalence of STI, and logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine the association of disability type and other participant characteristics with the odds of having STIs. RESULTS: The prevalence of STIs was more than twice as high for women of reproductive age with cognitive disabilities (6.8%) or ≥2 disabilities (6.7%) as for those without disabilities (2.7%). Women with sensory disabilities (AOR=1.47; 95% CI=1.17, 1.85), cognitive disabilities (AOR=1.89; 95% CI=1.65, 2.17), or ≥2 disabilities (AOR=1.78; 95% CI=1.49, 2.14) had greater odds of STIs than those without disabilities. Bisexual women had higher odds (AOR=1.31; 95% CI=1.14, 1.50) of STIs than straight women, whereas lesbian/gay women had lower odds (AOR=0.41; 95% CI=0.27, 0.63). The odds of STIs were higher among non-Hispanic Blacks (AOR=1.42; 95% CI=1.24, 1.63) and lower among Asian women (AOR=0.62; 95% CI=0.43, 0.90) than among non-Hispanic Whites. The odds of STIs were also greater among participants having any alcohol, cannabis, or illicit drug use. CONCLUSIONS: Women of reproductive age with disabilities have a higher prevalence of sexually transmitted infections. In addition to disability type, the odds of sexually transmitted infections varied by race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, and substance use.

Assessing the prevalence and risk factors of marijuana use in adults with disabilities.

BACKGROUND: Public support for the legalization of marijuana (cannabis) for medical or recreational use by adults has grown rapidly over the past two decades. Given the growing prevalence and concerns about potential harms, a better understanding is needed of disparities in marijuana use among adults by disability status. METHODS: Using 2015-2019 data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), we obtained a national sample of 195,130 working-age (18-64 year) adults. Descriptive and multivariable analyses were conducted to assess the prevalence and risk factors associated with marijuana use among adults by disability status and type. RESULTS: We found the prevalence of marijuana use was higher among adults with disabilities (16.6% vs 10.9%) compared to those without disabilities, and this disparity widened from 2015 to 2019. Furthermore, the odds of marijuana use varied by disability type. Specifically, adults with vision disability only (OR 1.28; 95% CI 1.14-1.44), cognitive disability only (OR 1.24; 95% CI 1.13-1.35), and those with multiple disabilities (OR 1.22; 95% CI 1.11-1.34) had higher odds of marijuana use compared to adults without any disability. CONCLUSIONS: Adults with disabilities have a higher prevalence of marijuana use compared to those without disabilities. Living in a state with legalized medical marijuana also increased the odds of marijuana use. These findings can help to inform policy and public health surveillance of marijuana use in the U.S. Further studies are needed to monitor the rising prevalence of marijuana use and examine how intensity of marijuana use affects health outcomes in adults with and without disabilities.

Disability and suicidal behaviors among women of reproductive age.

Limited research exists on suicidal behaviors among women with disabilities. This study examined disability, suicidal behaviors, and associated health determinants among non-pregnant women of reproductive age. Data from the 2015-2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (n = 76,750) were used to estimate associations between disability and suicidal behaviors and evaluate the effects of health determinants on suicidal behaviors among non-pregnant women of reproductive age with disabilities. Approximately 22% of non-pregnant women of reproductive age with disabilities reported suicidal behaviors compared to only 4.3% of women without disabilities. Women with disabilities had greater adjusted odds of past-year suicidal behaviors (AOR 1.73; 95% CI 1.60-1.87) than those without disabilities. Psychological distress (OR 3.66; 95% CI 2.98-4.49), major depressive episode (OR 3.22; 95% CI 2.82-3.67), unmet perceived mental health need (OR 2.29; 95% CI 1.98-2.65), age 18-25 years (OR 1.65; 95% CI 1.43-1.92), and illicit drug use (OR 1.40; 95% CI 1.20-1.64) were significantly associated with higher odds of suicidal behaviors, and specifically suicidal ideation, among women with disabilities. Non-pregnant women of reproductive age with disabilities are at increased risk for exhibiting suicidal behaviors. Better understanding of suicidal behaviors among women with disabilities can assist public health officials and medical professionals in developing meaningful prevention, detection, and intervention programs.

Exploring Levels and Correlates of Depression Literacy Among Older Korean Immigrants.

OBJECTIVES: Despite the high prevalence of depression among older Korean Americans (KAs), there has been very little research on depression literacy among older KAs. This study identified specific areas of improvement in depression literacy to address mental health promotion among KAs. Twenty-two items on the depression literacy scale were grouped under five key themes: incidence and prognosis, differential symptoms, symptom recognition, non-pharmacological effectiveness, and pharmacological knowledge. This study aimed to assess the level of understanding depression literacy based on five domains and identify factors associated with depression literacy and its domains among older KAs. METHODS: A cross-sectional study with 178 KAs aged 60 years and older was conducted in the Washington DC Metro area. Interviewer and self-administered questionnaires were used to collect data. Multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to identify factors associated with depression literacy and its domains. Statistical significance was set at p < .05 for analyses. RESULTS: Knowledge pertaining to all 5 depression literacy domains was low, particularly on pharmacological treatment and differential symptoms were noticeably low. The majority of participants had misconceptions about antidepressants. 86% believed that antidepressants can have a rapid effect on symptoms, 82.6% believed people with depression should stop taking antidepressants as soon as they feel better, and 66.3% believed antidepressants were addictive. CONCLUSION: Misperception about depression and antidepressants may be associated with poor mental health outcomes among older KAs. Culturally-tailored education for older KAs with limited English proficiency could be beneficial in promoting depression literacy and reducing stigma or misconceptions regarding depression and treatments.

Opioids and Disability Among Women of Reproductive Age.

Background: Despite nearly one in five U.S. women of reproductive age reporting a disability, limited research exists on opioid behaviors in this vulnerable population. This study examined associations between disability and past-year prescription opioid use and misuse, and described types of opioids, sources, and motives for opioid misuse among nonpregnant women of reproductive age. In addition, the effects of social, medical, and behavioral determinants of health on opioid use and misuse were assessed in this population of women with disabilities. Materials and Methods: Data were used from the 2015-2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (n = 93,679). Descriptive statistics and logistic regression models were used in the analyses. Results: Overall, 48.0% of women with a disability reported past-year prescription of any opioid use compared to 32.3% of women without disabilities, and 10.4% of women with disabilities reported opioid misuse relative to 4.2% of women without disabilities. Hydrocodone was the most used (29.3%) and misused (5.87%) opioid. Women with disabilities had higher adjusted odds of opioid use (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.59; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.50-1.67) and misuse (AOR 2.01; 95% CI, 1.82-2.21) than those without disabilities. Tobacco, alcohol use, and poor to fair health were all associated with higher odds of opioid misuse. For their last opioid misuse, 5.2% attained the opioids from a dealer or stranger, and 22.1% used opioids to get high. Conclusion: Women with disabilities are at an amplified risk for prescription opioid use and misuse. Improved medical provider education, training and capacity, and reinforcing related community-based support programs for this population are imperative.

Organizational Factors Associated with Evidence-Based Practice Knowledge, Attitudes, and Implementation among Nurses in Saudi Arabia.

Evidence-based practice (EBP) is crucial in keeping nurses aware of the current knowledge and improving clinical decision-making. The integration of nurses' EBP competencies and organizational support has been suggested to create an effective arena in implementing EBP. The purpose of the study was to examine organizational factors influencing nurses' EBP knowledge, attitudes, and implementation and identify staff nurses' perceptions of EBP nursing leadership and hospital supports in Saudi Arabia. Data were collected from a convenience sample of staff nurses (N = 227) working in four hospitals using a cross-sectional, correlational descriptive design. Level of education (p < 0.05), EBP training (p < 0.05), unit type (ICU (p < 0.001) and ER (p < 0.01)), perceived nursing leadership (p < 0.001), and work environment (p < 0.05) supports were found significantly associated with nurses' knowledge. Magnet recognition (p < 0.01) and knowledge (p < 0.001) had significant influence on nurses' attitudes. Unit type (ER) (p < 0.05), knowledge (p < 0.001), and attitudes (p < 0.001) were associated with implementation. Encouragement to attend EBP trainings from nursing leadership was perceived by most nurses (51.1%). Nurses reported their hospitals support EBP through training (68.2%). Findings support the need for healthcare systems to create a culture that facilitates EBP implementation to enhance nurses' EBP competencies and improve patients' outcomes. Nursing managers may consider preparing nurses through education.

Vitamin D Intake and Meeting Recommendations Among Infants Participating in WIC Nationally.

OBJECTIVE: To report and examine associations with infant vitamin D intake and meeting recommendations among a national sample participating in Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). DESIGN: Secondary analysis from the 2013-2015 WIC Infant Toddler Feeding Practices Study-2. PARTICIPANTS: US Infants. VARIABLES MEASURED: Total reported vitamin D intake from diet and supplementation at the time of data collection. ANALYSIS: Descriptive statistics and generalized estimating equations. RESULTS: The median total vitamin D intake ranged from 5.43 (95% confidence interval, 5.40-5.46) mcg/d at month 1 to 8.18 (95% confidence interval, 8.11-8.20) mcg/d at month 13, with 16% to 36% of infants meeting the infant vitamin D recommendation over that time. Overall, 6% to 12% of all participants reported supplementation across all time points. Although most (between 78% to 98%) of supplemented breastfed infants met the recommendation, very few were supplemented as a group. Hence, breastfed infants were less likely to meet the recommendation than those who were formula fed across at time points except month 1 (P < 0.001 for all). Whereas infant age, feeding type, and/or their interaction were significant predictors of both receiving supplementation and meeting the recommendation, mother/caregiver nativity (P = 0.006) and parity (P = 0.01 and P < 0.001) predicted receiving supplementation, and child sex (P < 0.001) and mother/caregiver race/ethnicity (P < 0.001) predicted meeting the recommendation. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: Among a national sample of infants participating in WIC between 2013-2015, a high proportion were not meeting the current vitamin D recommendation. The WIC program is 1 resource for promoting strategies for increasing the number of American infants meeting D recommendations, but a coordinated approach involving other health care providers is likely needed. Future research exploring the reason for lack of supplementation, from both the perspective of parents and providers and the clinical impact of low vitamin D intake, is warranted.

Marijuana use in Pregnant Women with Disabilities in the United States.

OBJECTIVES: While perinatal marijuana use is increasing, limited research exists related to its use during pregnancy among vulnerable subpopulations of women with disabilities. The purpose of this study is to assess marijuana use in pregnant U.S. women with disabilities. METHODS: The analytic sample using 2015-2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) data included 3657 pregnant women. Descriptive statistics were performed and adjusted logistic regression models estimated the size and direction of the association between the type of disability and marijuana use. RESULTS: Approximately 13.0% of pregnant women with disabilities used marijuana in the past month, which was higher than pregnant women without disabilities (4.4%). The highest prevalence of past month marijuana use was observed among pregnant women with sensory disabilities (17.2%) followed by women with cognitive disabilities (14.6%) and daily living limitations (11.7%). Marijuana use was also associated with younger age (≤ 25 years old), Black non-Hispanic, high school education or less, non-married, and past month alcohol/tobacco use. Overall, pregnant women with any disability, and particularly those with sensory disabilities (AOR 2.32, 95% CI 1.21, 4.47), were significantly more likely (AOR 1.65, 95% CI 1.02, 2.69) to use marijuana than their counterparts without disabilities. CONCLUSIONS: The higher prevalence of marijuana use among pregnant women with disabilities in this study supports the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommendations for universal screening of maternal substance use. Screening for marijuana use in vulnerable populations is crucial and it may require training of health care providers to administer such screenings to women with disabilities.

Substance Use Relapse Among Veterans at Termination of Treatment for Substance Use Disorders.

INTRODUCTION: Military veterans continue to struggle with addiction even after receiving treatment for substance use disorders (SUDs). Identifying factors that may influence SUD relapse upon receiving treatment in veteran populations is crucial for intervention and prevention efforts. The purpose of this study was to examine risk factors that contribute to SUD relapse upon treatment completion in a sample of U.S. veterans using logistic regression and classification tree analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data from the 2017 Treatment Episode Data Set-Discharge (TEDS-D) included 40,909 veteran episode observations. Descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression analysis were conducted to determine factors associated with SUD relapse after treatment discharge. Classification trees were constructed to identify high-risk subgroups for substance use after discharge from treatment for SUDs. RESULTS: Approximately 94% of the veterans relapsed upon discharge from outpatient or residential SUD treatment. Veterans aged 18-34 years old were significantly less likely to relapse than the 35-64 age group (odds ratio [OR] 0.73, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.66, 0.82), while males were more likely than females to relapse (OR 1.55, 95% CI: 1.34, 1.79). Unemployed veterans (OR 1.92, 95% CI: 1.67, 2.22) or veterans not in the labor force (OR 1.29, 95% CI: 1.13, 1.47) were more likely to relapse than employed veterans. Homeless vs. independently housed veterans had 3.26 (95% CI: 2.55, 4.17) higher odds of relapse after treatment. Veterans with one arrest vs. none were more likely to relapse (OR 1.52, 95% CI: 1.19, 1.95). Treatment completion was critical to maintain sobriety, as every other type of discharge led to more than double the odds of relapse. Veterans who received care at 24-hour detox facilities were 1.49 (95% CI: 1.23, 1.80) times more likely to relapse than those at rehabilitative/residential treatment facilities. Classification tree analysis indicated that homelessness upon discharge was the most important predictor in SUD relapse among veterans. CONCLUSION: Aside from numerous challenges that veterans face after leaving military service, SUD relapse is intensified by risk factors such as homelessness, unemployment, and insufficient SUD treatment. As treatment and preventive care for SUD relapse is an active field of study, further research on SUD relapse among homeless veterans is necessary to better understand the epidemiology of substance addiction among this vulnerable population. The findings of this study can inform healthcare policy and practices targeting veteran-tailored treatment programs to improve SUD treatment completion and lower substance use after treatment.

Stressful life events and postpartum depressive symptoms among women with disabilities.

PURPOSE: Although research evidence indicates positive associations between stressful life events and postpartum depression, limited research assessed these associations in women with disabilities. This study examined the effects of stressful life events on postpartum depressive symptoms in women with disabilities. METHODS: Data from the 2012-2017 Massachusetts Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (n = 8453) were used in this study. Women were asked if they experienced any life stressors (e.g. financial, traumatic, relational, and emotional) during the 12 months prior to giving birth. Disability was measured based on reports of emotional and physical functioning. Descriptive statistics, bivariate, and binary logistic regression analyses were conducted to estimate the effect of stressful life events on postpartum depressive symptoms among women with and without disabilities. RESULTS: Findings show that 37.4% of women with disabilities had postpartum depressive symptoms, which was significantly higher than 8.79% of women without disabilities. Stressful life events were reported in 86.6% of women with disabilities, compared to 66.6% for women without disabilities. Prevalence of three or more stressful life events and postpartum depressive symptoms was greater among women with disabilities (50.8% and 62.9%, respectively) than women without disabilities (22.6% and 37.0%, respectively). Women with disabilities experiencing six or more stressful life events were more likely (odds ratio = 3.78, 95% confidence interval = [1.57-9.10]) to report postpartum depressive symptoms, compared to those with no stressful life events. Women with disabilities who experienced relational (odds ratio = 2.36, 95% confidence interval = [1.44-3.87]) and traumatic (odds ratio = 1.75, 95% confidence interval = [1.02-3.00]) life stressors had higher odds for postpartum depressive symptoms relative to those reporting no such life stressors. CONCLUSION: Women with disabilities are at an amplified risk for stressful life events and postpartum depressive symptoms. Relational and traumatic stressful life events particularly increase the odds for postpartum depressive symptoms among this group of mothers. Early prenatal and postnatal screening for life stressors and depressive symptoms, coupled with timely referral for appropriate prenatal and postnatal care, are vital to mitigate the harmful effects of depression among mothers with disabilities and the health of their children.

Powerless in the Virgin Islands: Emergency Department and Wound Care Clinic Utilization Following the 2017 Hurricanes Irma and Maria on St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.

OBJECTIVE: The main objective of this work was to characterize the prevalence of acute medical needs by examining emergency department (ED) and outpatient wound care clinic (WCC) visits before, during, and after the 2017 Hurricanes Irma and Maria, in St. Thomas, United States (U.S.) Virgin Islands. METHODS: Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used to assess associations between the occurrence of the storms and visits due to injuries and chronic conditions presented to the ED and WCC from September 1, 2016 to May 31, 2018. RESULTS: ED visits increased and the rate of injury care was higher during the storms (12 patient visits per day) than before or after the storms (9 patient visits per day). WCC visits increased during (12%) and after the storms (45%), and were associated with patients 60 years and older. The odds of ED and WCC visits due to injury during the storms were significantly higher (odds ratio [OR]: 1.28, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.17, 1.40) than prior to the storms. The odds for visits due to injuries were 1.19 (95% CI: 1.12, 1.28) times higher after the storms. CONCLUSIONS: Increases occurred in ED and WCC visits for injury care during the storms and in WCC visits after the storms. Public health preparedness mandates understanding how major hurricanes impact the prevalence of acute medical needs, and the factors that influence decisions to seek medical care, in their wake.