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. 2022;43(1):465-478.
doi: 10.1080/08897077.2021.1946893. Epub 2021 Jul 6.

Understanding opioid overdose risk and response preparedness among people who use cocaine and other drugs: Mixed-methods findings from a large, multi-city study

Jaclyn M W Hughto  1   2   3 , Lily K Gordon  4 , Thomas J Stopka  5 , Patricia Case  6 , Wilson R Palacios  7 , Abigail Tapper  8 , Traci C Green  2   4   8
Affiliations

Understanding opioid overdose risk and response preparedness among people who use cocaine and other drugs: Mixed-methods findings from a large, multi-city study

Jaclyn M W Hughto et al. Subst Abus. 2022.

Abstract

Background: Fatal overdoses involving cocaine (powdered or crack) and fentanyl have increased nationally and in Massachusetts. It is unclear how overdose risk and preparedness to respond to an overdose differs by patterns of cocaine and opioid use. Methods: From 2017 to 2019, we conducted a nine-community mixed-methods study of Massachusetts residents who use drugs. Using survey data from 465 participants with past-month cocaine and/or opioid use, we examined global differences (p < 0.05) in overdose risk and response preparedness by patterns of cocaine and opioid use. Qualitative interviews (n = 172) contextualized survey findings. Results: The majority of the sample (66%) used cocaine and opioids in the past month; 18.9% used opioids alone; 9.2% used cocaine and had no opioid use history; and 6.2% used cocaine and had an opioid use history. Relative to those with a current/past history of opioid use, significantly fewer of those with no opioid use history were aware of fentanyl in the drug supply, carried naloxone, and had received naloxone training. Qualitative interviews documented how people who use cocaine and have no history of opioid use are largely unprepared to recognize and respond to an overdose. Conclusions: Public health efforts are needed to increase fentanyl awareness and overdose prevention preparedness among people primarily using cocaine.

Keywords: Substance use; cocaine; crack; opioids; overdose.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Gradients of fatal opioid overdose risk and response preparedness among people who use drugs.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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