Emergency Room Utilization and Methamphetamine Overdose Symptoms Among Syringe Services Program Participants in Washington State.

BACKGROUND: Methamphetamine overdose can cause severe psychological and physical health issues including psychosis, heart attack, and death. People who use methamphetamine (PWUM) who experience methamphetamine overdose symptoms (MOS) are advised to seek emergency healthcare; however, factors related to seeking care are not well characterized. METHODS: This study used data from the 2021 Washington State Syringe Services Program (SSP) Health Survey, a cross-sectional survey administered to participants at 21 SSPs in Washington (N = 955). Participants answered questions related to substance use including emergency department/room (ER) utilization for methamphetamine use and whether they experienced psychological and physical MOS. Using Poisson regression, we assessed the association between ER utilization for methamphetamine use, non-fatal opioid overdose, and other key covariates among PWUM who experienced MOS. RESULTS: Methamphetamine use in the last three months was reported by 86% of participants. Among PWUM, 31% reported psychological MOS, 19% reported physical MOS, and 37% reported ≥1 MOS in the prior three months. Non-fatal opioid overdose (adjusted prevalence ratio [APR] = 2.04, 95% CI = 1.38-3.03), main drug of goofball (heroin and methamphetamine combined) (APR = 1.98, 95% CI = 1.34-2.92) and recent blood infection/sepsis (APR = 2.07, 95% CI = 1.24-3.46) were associated with ER utilization for MOS. CONCLUSION: Among people who use SSPs in Washington State, methamphetamine use remains high, and MOS are common. Recent non-fatal opioid overdose was positively associated with ER utilization for methamphetamine use among PWUM who experienced MOS. Patients in the ER for MOS should be screened for opioid use disorder and linked with harm reduction supplies like naloxone and medications for opioid use disorder.

Racial disparities in use of syringe service programs in King County, WA: a comparison of two cross-sectional surveys.

BACKGROUND: Syringe service programs (SSPs) provide tools to people who inject drugs (PWID) to prevent overdose, reduce the risk of HIV and HCV infection, and reduce injection frequency. While effective, previous research suggests that SSPs may not adequately reach some marginalized or particularly vulnerable subpopulations of PWID. METHODS: To identify disparities in SSP use, data from two cross-sectional surveys conducted in King County, Washington were compared: a survey of SSP clients and a community survey of PWID in King County. It was hypothesized that Black PWID, women, and gender minorities would be underrepresented in the SSP survey relative to the general population of PWID. RESULTS: SSP clients identified as White at a significantly higher rate than the community sample of PWID (p = 0.030). Black (p < 0.001), American Indian/Alaska Native (p < 0.001), Latinx/Hispanic (p = 0.009), and Native Hawaiian/ Pacific Islander PWID (p = 0.034) were underrepresented in the SSP client survey. The gender of SSP clients was similar to the distribution seen in the community sample of PWID (p = 0.483). CONCLUSIONS: Black PWID are underrepresented in Seattle-area SSPs, consistent with studies in other large US cities. Both nationally and in Seattle, overdose deaths have been increasing among Black PWID, and harm reduction strategies are vital to reversing this trend. SSPs should explore and test ways to be more accessible to minority populations.

Trends and correlates of naloxone possession and use among people who inject drugs in Seattle, Washington.

BACKGROUND: Naloxone distribution has been implemented as an essential opioid overdose prevention measure for people who inject drugs (PWID), and many jurisdictions in the United States have implemented policy change to increase naloxone access. This project describes temporal trends in and correlates of naloxone possession and use among PWID in the Seattle area of Washington State. METHODS: Using a repeat cross-sectional design, we utilized two sets of serial cross-sectional surveys of PWID, which included biennial surveys of Seattle area syringe service program (SSP) clients and community-based National HIV Behavioral Surveillance surveys of PWID (NHBS-PWID) conducted from 2012-2019. Survey participant characteristics were descriptively compared between participants reporting naloxone possession to those not reporting naloxone possession. Multivariable Poisson regression was used to calculate prevalence ratios for naloxone possession comparing later to earlier survey years, adjusting for age, gender, race/ethnicity, primary drug, and experiencing and witnessing an overdose in the past 12 months. RESULTS: Naloxone possession and use increased in both survey populations. The prevalence of possessing naloxone was 2.8 times greater [2019 vs. 2013= 95% CI: 2.40-3.33] among SSP participants and 2.8 times greater [2018 vs. 2012=95% CI: 2.41-3.16] among NHBS-PWID participants for the most recent time period. The prevalence of naloxone use was 1.3 times greater [2019 vs. 2017= 95% CI: 1.13-1.58] and 2.1 times greater [2015 vs. 2012=95% CI:1.62-2.73] among SSP and NHBS-PWID participants, respectively, for the most recent time period. CONCLUSION: Naloxone possession and use increased in PWID in the Seattle area from 2012-2019, and is, at least in part, likely the result of numerous policy and programmatic efforts to facilitate easier naloxone accessibility in the wake of dramatic increases in overdose mortality. Further research on disparities in naloxone possession are needed to ensure equitable access.

"Hooked on" prescription-type opiates prior to using heroin: results from a survey of syringe exchange clients.

The availability and diversion of prescription-type opioids increased dramatically in the first decade of the twenty-first century. One possible consequence of increased prescription opioid use and accessibility is the associated rise in opioid dependence, potentially resulting in heroin addiction. This study aimed to determine how common initial dependence on prescription-type opioids is among heroin injectors; associations with demographic and drug-using characteristics were also examined. Interview data were collected at syringe exchanges in King County, Washington in 2009. Among the respondents who had used heroin in the prior four months, 39% reported being "hooked on" prescription-type opioids first. Regression analysis indicated that younger age, sedative use and no recent crack use were independently associated with self-report of being hooked on prescription-type opioids prior to using heroin. These data quantify the phenomenon of being hooked on prescription-type opioids prior to initiating heroin use. Further research is needed to characterize the epidemiology, etiology and trajectory of prescription-type opioid and heroin use in the context of continuing widespread availability of prescription-type opioids.

The Community-Based Medication-First program for opioid use disorder: a hybrid implementation study protocol of a rapid access to buprenorphine program in Washington State.

BACKGROUND: Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a serious health condition that is effectively treated with buprenorphine. However, only a minority of people with OUD are able to access buprenorphine. Many access points for buprenorphine have high barriers for initiation and retention. Health care and drug treatment systems have not been able to provide services to all-let alone the majority-who need it, and many with OUD report extreme challenges starting and staying on buprenorphine in those care settings. We describe the design and protocol for a study of a rapid access buprenorphine program model in six Washington State communities at existing sites serving people who are unhoused and/or using syringe services programs. This study aimed to test the effectiveness of a Community-Based Medication-First Program model. METHODS: We are conducting a hybrid effectiveness-implementation study of a rapid access buprenorphine model of care staffed by prescribers, nurse care managers, and care navigators. The Community-Based Medication-First model of care was designed as a 6-month, induction-stabilization-transition model to be delivered between 2019 and 2022. Effectiveness outcomes will be tested by comparing the intervention group with a comparison group derived from state records of people who had OUD. Construction of the comparison group will align characteristics such as geography, demographics, historical rates of arrests, OUD medication, and health care utilization, using restriction and propensity score techniques. Outcomes will include arrests, emergency and inpatient health care utilization, and mortality rates. Descriptive statistics for buprenorphine utilization patterns during the intervention period will be documented with the prescription drug monitoring program. DISCUSSION: Results of this study will help determine the effectiveness of the intervention. Given the serious population-level and individual-level impacts of OUD, it is essential that services be readily available to all people with OUD, including those who cannot readily access care due to their circumstances, capacity, preferences, and related systems barriers.

Risk factors for nonfatal overdose at Seattle-area syringe exchanges.

Opioid-involved overdose deaths are on the rise, both nationwide and in the state of Washington. In a survey of 443 participants at syringe exchanges in Seattle, Washington, 16% had overdosed in the last year. Several factors were significantly associated in bivariate analysis: lack of permanent housing; incarceration of five or more days in the past year; gender of sex partners; sharing of syringes and other injection paraphernalia; use of speedballs (cocaine and heroin together), goofballs (methamphetamine and heroin together), buprenorphine; injection use of crack cocaine and sedatives; and use of opioids with sedatives. Adjusting for other variables in multivariate logistic regression analyses, only recent incarceration and sharing of injection materials were still significantly associated with overdose. Correctional facilities, syringe exchange programs, and other agencies serving opioid injectors should include overdose prevention components in release planning and services.

Interest in reducing methamphetamine and opioid use among syringe services program participants in Washington State.

BACKGROUND: Methamphetamine use is increasing, and opioid use remains elevated in the US. Understanding interest in reducing/stopping substance use among people who inject drugs (PWID), as well as types of help wanted, can inform interventions. METHODS: Data from the 2019 Washington State Syringe Exchange Survey were used in logistic regression analyses to assess if demographics, substance use, and concern about anxiety or depression were associated with interest in reducing/stopping substance use among people whose main drug was methamphetamine or opioids. Types of help wanted to reduce/stop use are reported. RESULTS: Of 583 participants included, 76 % reported opioids were their main drug, of whom 82 % were interested in reducing/stopping their opioid use. 24 % reported methamphetamine as their main drug, of whom 46 % were interested in reducing/stopping their methamphetamine use. Among those whose main drug was an opioid, female gender (AOR:2.19, p = .023) and concern about depression (AOR:3.04, p = .002) were associated with interest in reducing/stopping opioid use. Among participants whose main drug was methamphetamine, being in jail in the past year and having an infection likely related to injection (e.g., abscess) in the past year were associated with over twice the odds of interest in reducing/stopping methamphetamine use (AOR:2.14, p = .056 and 2.43, p = .052, respectively); however, these findings were not significant. Several types of help to reduce/stop use were endorsed. CONCLUSION: There were high, though differing, levels of interest in reducing/stopping opioid or methamphetamine use and in a range of support services. PWID should be asked about interest in reducing/stopping use and provided appropriate support.

Interest in Getting Help to Reduce or Stop Substance Use Among Syringe Exchange Clients Who Use Opioids.

OBJECTIVES: Opioid use is a growing problem in the United States. Despite existence of effective treatments (eg, opioid agonist medication), most people with opioid use disorder do not receive treatment. Increasing treatment receipt is an essential component of the response to the opioid crisis. We examined factors associated with interest in getting help to reduce or stop substance use among syringe exchange program (SEP) clients who reported using opioids. METHODS: Surveys were administered at 17 SEPs across Washington State during 2015; 436 respondents who reported recent opioid use and not receiving current treatment were eligible for this analysis. Multivariable logistic regression was conducted to examine factors associated with being somewhat or very interested in getting help, including sociodemographic characteristics, substance use behaviors and outcomes, and use of health care services. RESULTS: Most participants reported interest in getting help (77.5%). Factors positively associated with interest included female gender (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.79; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03, 3.11), having an abscess (AOR = 1.87; 95% CI: 1.02, 3.40), and having received treatment (AOR = 4.83; 95% CI: 1.77, 13.14) or other services (AOR = 3.01; 95% CI: 1.06, 8.54) in the past year. Recent methamphetamine use was negatively associated with interest in getting help (AOR = 0.49; 95% CI: 0.26, 0.91). CONCLUSIONS: In this survey of SEP clients, interest in getting help to reduce or stop substance use was prevalent and varied across subpopulations of persons using opioids. Findings point to SEPs as an important venue for treatment engagement, and suggest subgroups who may be targeted for engagement interventions.

Epidemiology of MDMA and associated club drugs in the Seattle area.

Club drug use, MDMA in particular, appeared as a growing problem in the Seattle area in the late 1990s. To understand more about the patterns of MDMA use and to evaluate the current state of MDMA use, multiple data sources were examined. The seven data sources utilized included local community-based club drug surveys collected in 2003 at raves, treatment agencies, and gay-oriented bars and sex clubs; school surveys (collected in 2002); mortality data (deaths between 2000 and 2002); data from the sexually transmitted disease clinic (October 2002 to October 2003); focus groups (2003) with men who have sex with men; emergency department drug mentions (1995 to 2002); and drug treatment admissions (1999 to 2003). Taken together, these data indicate moderate levels of MDMA use and relatively low levels of mortality and acute morbidity. However, there are several areas of concern including possible mental health effects and high levels of suspected adulteration of MDMA. Some data point to a relationship between MDMA use and risky behaviors including unprotected sex. Implications for prevention, intervention, and treatment are discussed.