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Articles 1 - 28 of 28
Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences
States’ Covid-19 Restrictions Were Associated With Increases In Drug Overdose Deaths In 2020, Douglas A. Wolf, Shannon M. Monnat, Jennifer Karas Montez, Emily E. Wiemers, Elyse Grossman
States’ Covid-19 Restrictions Were Associated With Increases In Drug Overdose Deaths In 2020, Douglas A. Wolf, Shannon M. Monnat, Jennifer Karas Montez, Emily E. Wiemers, Elyse Grossman
Population Health Research Brief Series
Drug overdoses surged in the U.S. during the COVID-19 pandemic. Public health experts raised concerns in the pandemic’s early months about how the pandemic and the policies enacted to stem it might increase overdose risk. This brief summarizes the findings of a paper that used national data to identify how states’ COVID-19 policies affected drug overdose rates among U.S. adults ages 25-64 during the first year of the pandemic. Results show that counties located in states that adopted more aggressive in-person activity restrictions experienced larger increases in 2020 than counties located in states with fewer limitations. State economic support policies …
Older Adults Are At Greater Risk Of Opioid Use Disorder In Communities With High Social Vulnerability, Tse-Chuan Yang, Seulki Kim, Stephen A. Matthews, Carla Shoff
Older Adults Are At Greater Risk Of Opioid Use Disorder In Communities With High Social Vulnerability, Tse-Chuan Yang, Seulki Kim, Stephen A. Matthews, Carla Shoff
Population Health Research Brief Series
The prevalence of opioid use disorder (OUD) among older adults has increased and imposes a heavy burden on the health care system in the United States. This brief summarizes findings from a study that used data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to examine how county characteristics contributed to the prevalence of OUD among Medicare beneficiaries age 65+ in U.S. counties in 2021. They found that the prevalence of OUD among these adults is higher in counties with more place-level social vulnerability (e.g., socioeconomic disadvantage, high housing cost burden).
The Federal Government Must Revise Public Housing Policies To Protect Vulnerable Populations From Evictions, Caroline Grabowski
The Federal Government Must Revise Public Housing Policies To Protect Vulnerable Populations From Evictions, Caroline Grabowski
Population Health Research Brief Series
Over 100,000 Americans are now dying from drug overdoses annually, signifying that the goal of the 1986 Anti-Drug Abuse Act (ADAA) to end illicit drug use has not been achieved. What’s more, numerous statutes within the ADAA have created or worsened housing instability among people who use drugs and their families. This is because the ADAA allows public housing officials to use their own discretion when determining evictions and lease refusals and has disproportionately harmed individuals in public housing who did not participate in the drug-related activities that led to their eviction. This brief describes how the ADAA negatively affects …
Collegiate Recovery Programs Are An Effective But Underused Resource On College Campuses, Emily Graham
Collegiate Recovery Programs Are An Effective But Underused Resource On College Campuses, Emily Graham
Population Health Research Brief Series
Substance use disorder is one of the most serious public health issues for young people in the United States. About 30% of full-time college students develop a substance use disorder during their academic careers, and nearly half a million identify as in recovery. Yet, many college campuses lack the resources necessary for college students to access important recovery-based programs and support. This brief explores the barriers to accessing Collegiate Recovery Programs on college campuses and provides recommendations to enhance student engagement and wellbeing.
How Has The Opioid Crisis Affected Health, Health Care Use, And Crime In The United States?, Johanna Catherine Maclean, Justine Mallatt, Christopher J. Ruhm, Kosali Simon
How Has The Opioid Crisis Affected Health, Health Care Use, And Crime In The United States?, Johanna Catherine Maclean, Justine Mallatt, Christopher J. Ruhm, Kosali Simon
Population Health Research Brief Series
The U.S. opioid crisis is the deadliest drug crisis in the nation’s history and is not abating. This brief summarizes what is known about the relationships between opioid misuse, health, healthcare use, and crime. The authors show that the opioid crisis has led to worsening health, increased mortality, increased healthcare use, and modest increases in crime. In addition, the policies designed to curb opioid misuse and its associated harms have had only limited success.
Opioid Treatment Programs Can Reduce Opioid-Related Emergency Department Visits And Foster Care Placements, Lindsey Rose Bullinger, Vivian Wang, Kenneth A. Feder
Opioid Treatment Programs Can Reduce Opioid-Related Emergency Department Visits And Foster Care Placements, Lindsey Rose Bullinger, Vivian Wang, Kenneth A. Feder
Population Health Research Brief Series
The U.S. opioid epidemic has led not only to unprecedented increases in opioid overdoses, functional impairment, and deaths among adults but also harmed children. After lifting a long-standing moratorium on drug treatment programs and increasing the number of medication-assisted opioid treatment programs (OTPs), Indiana saw a decrease in emergency overdose treatments and foster care placements. This brief explores the positive effects of medication-assisted treatments on children and their caregivers and the cost savings for foster care agencies.
Which Demographic Groups And Which Places Have The Highest Drug Overdose Rates In The U.S.?, Shannon M. Monnat
Which Demographic Groups And Which Places Have The Highest Drug Overdose Rates In The U.S.?, Shannon M. Monnat
Population Health Research Brief Series
Although the drug overdose crisis has affected all demographic groups and places in the United States, overdose rates are much higher in some sub-populations and places than others. This brief describes demographic and geographic differences in fatal drug overdose rates from 1999-2020. Throughout most of this period, fatal drug overdose rates were highest among young and middle-aged adult White and Native American males and middle-aged and older Black males. Rates have been consistently highest in Appalachia, but in recent years have spread throughout several regions in urban and rural areas alike. Although opioids have been the main contributor, cocaine- and …
Federal Medication-Assisted Treatment Expansion Grants Do Not Reduce Homelessness, Andrew Sullivan, Changwe Park
Federal Medication-Assisted Treatment Expansion Grants Do Not Reduce Homelessness, Andrew Sullivan, Changwe Park
Population Health Research Brief Series
Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) is an evidence-based intervention that, combined with counseling and behavioral therapies, can effectively treat opioid use disorders. However, MAT is underused due to multiple barriers. To increase access to MAT, the U.S. government awarded grants to local governments and nonprofit organizations to increase and retain the number of people receiving MAT. This brief examined differences in homelessness and employment outcomes between places that received a MAT grant and those that did not. They found that these grants did not reduce homelessness or unemployment rates in the places that received funding and concluded that their effectiveness may have …
The Oxycontin® Reformulation In 2010 Increased States’ Food Insecurity Rates, Colleen Heflin, Xiaohan Sun
The Oxycontin® Reformulation In 2010 Increased States’ Food Insecurity Rates, Colleen Heflin, Xiaohan Sun
Population Health Research Brief Series
The massive surge in opioid misuse and overdose over the past three decades has led to major family, economic, and social disruptions in the United States. OxyContin® - a highly potent, extended-release opioid was among the most commonly-abused narcotics throughout the 2000s. After reformulating OxyContin® to make it more difficult to inhale or inject, many people with opioid use disorders switched to using street drugs. The reformulation had many other unanticipated consequences. This brief shows that states with higher initial OxyContin® misuse rates had an increase in food insecurity after OxyContin® reformulation. The authors argue that public policies must consider …
How Has The Opioid Overdose Crisis Affected Child Maltreatment In The U.S.?, Alexander Chapman
How Has The Opioid Overdose Crisis Affected Child Maltreatment In The U.S.?, Alexander Chapman
Population Health Research Brief Series
This brief summarizes results from a study examining the association between U.S. county-level opioid mortality rates and child maltreatment rates from 2007 to 2017. Places with higher opioid overdose mortality rates have higher rates of child maltreatment. Poverty makes this problem worse - where the proportion of families in poverty increases, the association between fatal opioid overdose rates and child maltreatment also increases. Findings suggest that intervening in opioid use by reducing poverty has the potential to markedly decrease the incidence of child maltreatment.
Over Two-Thirds Of Opioid Overdose Victims In Canada Were Employed Before They Died, Alexander Cheung, Joseph Marchand, Patricia Mark
Over Two-Thirds Of Opioid Overdose Victims In Canada Were Employed Before They Died, Alexander Cheung, Joseph Marchand, Patricia Mark
Population Health Research Brief Series
As in the United States, drug overdose is the leading cause of unnatural death in Canada, with most overdoses involving opioids. The authors of this brief quantify the lost labor productivity from opioid overdoses in Canada. They show that from 2016 to 2019, over two-thirds of opioid overdose victims were working and contributing to the economy before they died, with those employed in construction, trades, and transportation having the highest opioid overdose rates. The authors argue that destigmatizing drug use, ensuring a safe supply, and improving access to medical care and take-home Naloxone kits are critical for reducing overdose deaths.
What Is The Effect Of Opioid Use During Pregnancy On Infant Health And Wellbeing At Birth?, Jessica Pac, Christine Durrance, Lawrence Berger, Deborah Ehrenthal
What Is The Effect Of Opioid Use During Pregnancy On Infant Health And Wellbeing At Birth?, Jessica Pac, Christine Durrance, Lawrence Berger, Deborah Ehrenthal
Population Health Research Brief Series
The opioid epidemic has severe consequences for pregnant women and their infants. Opioid use during pregnancy increases the risk of numerous poor outcomes at birth, including Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS), preterm birth, and low birth weight. Opioid use during pregnancy can also lead to child protective services reports and foster care entry. This brief summarizes the findings from a recent study that used linked administrative data from Wisconsin from 2010-2019 and child protective service reports to evaluate the effects of exposure to prescription and illicit opioids during pregnancy on infant health and wellbeing at birth.
The Opioid Epidemic Has Disrupted Children’S Living Arrangements, Mónica L. Caudillo, Andres Villarreal, Philip N. Cohen
The Opioid Epidemic Has Disrupted Children’S Living Arrangements, Mónica L. Caudillo, Andres Villarreal, Philip N. Cohen
Population Health Research Brief Series
The contemporary drug overdose crisis has had profound impacts on children and families in the United States. This brief summarizes how children’s living arrangements have changed during the opioid epidemic. The authors find that opioid overdose deaths are associated with decreasing shares of children living with two married parents and increases in shares of children living with unmarried but cohabiting parents, single fathers, and adults other than their parents. These changes have been most pronounced among White children.
U.S. Counties With Higher Drug Overdose Rates Have Lower School Test Scores, Rajeev Darolia, Sam Owens, John Tyler
U.S. Counties With Higher Drug Overdose Rates Have Lower School Test Scores, Rajeev Darolia, Sam Owens, John Tyler
Population Health Research Brief Series
The impacts of the contemporary U.S. drug overdose crisis on child and family wellbeing have been profound. This brief describes the link between county-level opioid overdose rates and children’s test scores, finding that counties with higher overdose rates have lower average 3rd and 8th-grade test scores than counties with lower overdose rates. The relationship between higher overdose rates and lower test scores is particularly strong in rural counties. The places with the highest overdose rates and lowest test scores tend to be economically-disadvantaged, suggesting that economic investments may be needed to address the issue.
Counties With Higher Prescription Opioid Presence Have Slower Student Learning Rates, Jessica Drescher, Carrie Townley-Flores
Counties With Higher Prescription Opioid Presence Have Slower Student Learning Rates, Jessica Drescher, Carrie Townley-Flores
Population Health Research Brief Series
The adverse impacts of the U.S. opioid crisis have been documented in many domains, but surprisingly little attention has been directed to understanding how the opioid crisis has affected children’s educational outcomes. This brief shows that students in counties with high levels of opioid prescribing are learning more slowly over time than their peers in counties with low levels of opioid prescribing. In addition to directing more support to schools, the authors advocate for policies that address the underlying social conditions that lead to prescription opioid misuse.
The U.S. Should Increase Access To Medication For Opioid Use Disorder Among Incarcerated Individuals, Cody Nagle
The U.S. Should Increase Access To Medication For Opioid Use Disorder Among Incarcerated Individuals, Cody Nagle
Population Health Research Brief Series
Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) is among the most common medical diagnoses for people in jails and prisons. Those leaving incarceration without substance use treatment are 40 times more likely than the general public to have a fatal overdose, making it the leading cause of death for people recently released. This brief describes the use of Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD) and Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) as realistic and legally protected approaches to reducing overdoses upon exiting incarceration. It also calls for federal regulation and guidance on the use of MOUD in prisons, jails, and drug courts to ensure each …
Safe Consumption Sites Are Critical To Reducing Drug Overdoses, Alexandra Punch
Safe Consumption Sites Are Critical To Reducing Drug Overdoses, Alexandra Punch
Population Health Research Brief Series
In 2021, over 100,000 people died from drug overdoses in the United States, resulting in the country’s deadliest year on record for drug overdoses. Much of the increase in drug overdose rates over the past several years has been due to fentanyl, a highly potent manufactured opioid with a high risk of overdose. Coupled with the risk of transmission of blood-borne diseases, such as HIV and Hepatitis C from sharing drug paraphernalia, individuals who use drugs face numerous challenges in safely consuming drugs. This issue brief advocates for the implementation of safe consumption sites across the U.S. and calls for …
Unhealthy Workplace Conditions Contribute To Physician Suicide, Mariah Brennan Nanni, Alexandra Punch
Unhealthy Workplace Conditions Contribute To Physician Suicide, Mariah Brennan Nanni, Alexandra Punch
Population Health Research Brief Series
Physicians have the highest suicide rate of all professions. High-stress working environments, long hours, burnout, substance use, and financial stress all contribute to high physician suicide rates. Adding fuel to the fire, COVID-19 has intensified this long-term problem. This issue brief describes the unhealthy workplace conditions that contribute to poor mental health among physicians and calls for policies that encourage physicians to seek help and rest without the fear of punishment.
Wastewater Testing Shows That Pharmaceutical And Illicit Drug Use Are Higher In Places Where Covid-19 Is More Prevalent, Kerrie Marshall, Arik Palileo, Eric Schiff, Teng Zeng
Wastewater Testing Shows That Pharmaceutical And Illicit Drug Use Are Higher In Places Where Covid-19 Is More Prevalent, Kerrie Marshall, Arik Palileo, Eric Schiff, Teng Zeng
Population Health Research Brief Series
Wastewater testing shows that pharmaceutical and illicit drug use are higher in places were COVID-19 is more prevalent.
Expanding Public Insurance Eligibility Increases Substance Use Treatment Provider Acceptance Of Public Insurance And Increases Adolescent Access To Treatment, Sarah Hamersma, Catherine Maclean
Expanding Public Insurance Eligibility Increases Substance Use Treatment Provider Acceptance Of Public Insurance And Increases Adolescent Access To Treatment, Sarah Hamersma, Catherine Maclean
Population Health Research Brief Series
Expanding eligibility thresholds for Medicaid and CHIP leads to increased access to and use of substance use treatment among adolescents.
Anxious Times And Anxiety Drugs, Noah Atlas, Austin Mcneill Brown
Anxious Times And Anxiety Drugs, Noah Atlas, Austin Mcneill Brown
Population Health Research Brief Series
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused rising anxiety and a corresponding increase in benzodiazepine prescriptions. Experts worry that inconsistent access to physicians as a result of stay-at-home orders will lead dependent patients to seek counterfeit or street drugs if their prescriptions lapse. This brief discusses these repercussions and recommends approaches to monitor and support those suffering from anxiety.
Self-Esteem And Long-Term Recovery From Substance Use Disorders, Mariah Brennan Nanni, Austin Mcneill Brown
Self-Esteem And Long-Term Recovery From Substance Use Disorders, Mariah Brennan Nanni, Austin Mcneill Brown
Population Health Research Brief Series
This brief describes how self-esteem and other strength-based measures of personal growth are better indicators of recovery progress.
The Stories Behind The Struggle: A Closer Look At First Experiences With Opioid Misuse, Khary K. Rigg, Shannon M. Monnat, Katherine Mclean, Ashton Verdery, Glenn Sterner
The Stories Behind The Struggle: A Closer Look At First Experiences With Opioid Misuse, Khary K. Rigg, Shannon M. Monnat, Katherine Mclean, Ashton Verdery, Glenn Sterner
Population Health Research Brief Series
The opioid crisis is a national public health emergency. Over 47,000 people in the U.S. died of opioid overdoses in 2017. Improving our knowledge about how people first come to misuse opioids can help to inform prevention and treatment interventions. This research brief shows that opioid misuse most often begins before age 25, most people obtain the opioids they misuse from friends and family rather than a health care provider, and experimenting and coping with life stressors are the most common motivations for starting opioid misuse.
We Need To Change The Language We Use To Describe Individuals With Substance Use Issues, Austin Mcneill Brown
We Need To Change The Language We Use To Describe Individuals With Substance Use Issues, Austin Mcneill Brown
Population Health Research Brief Series
People with substance use disorders (SUDs) are highly stigmatized worldwide. This research brief describes the results from several studies on unconscious bias and negative language used to describe individuals with SUDs.
There Are Costs From Spending Too Much Time On Social Media, Sean Withington, Alexandra Punch
There Are Costs From Spending Too Much Time On Social Media, Sean Withington, Alexandra Punch
Population Health Research Brief Series
Ninety percent of young adults in the U.S. are on social media, with the majority using these sites at least once a day. This issue brief explores how excessive use of social media can lead to addiction, loneliness, depression, decreased self-esteem, and unfulfilling relationships.
Understanding Opioid Users’ Views On Fentanyl Could Help Reduce Overdoses, Kate Mclean, Shannon M. Monnat, Khary Rigg, Glenn Sterner, Ashton Verdery
Understanding Opioid Users’ Views On Fentanyl Could Help Reduce Overdoses, Kate Mclean, Shannon M. Monnat, Khary Rigg, Glenn Sterner, Ashton Verdery
Population Health Research Brief Series
The opioid overdose crisis is a national public health emergency, made much worse in recent years by the widespread emergence of fentanyl – a highly potent synthetic opioid. This research brief summarizes the findings from their research conducted in southwestern Pennsylvania in 2017 and 2018. Results show that the majority of interviewees who use opioids are fearful of and want to avoid fentanyl and would utilize harm reduction strategies such as fentanyl test strips if they were made more widely available.
There Are Multiple And Geographically Distinct Opioid Crises In The U.S., Shannon M. Monnat
There Are Multiple And Geographically Distinct Opioid Crises In The U.S., Shannon M. Monnat
Population Health Research Brief Series
Rates of fatal drug overdose increased 250% in the U.S. between 1999 and 2017, due in large part to a massive surge in overdoses involving opioids. However, there is substantial geographic variation in fatal opioid overdoses, and prescription opioids, heroin, and fentanyl are differentially responsible for high overdose rates across different parts of the U.S. This research brief summarizes the findings from a study just published in the American Journal of Public Health. The study shows that there are at least four geographically distinct opioid overdose crises in the U.S.
The Increase In Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome From Opioids Affects Us All, Sean Withington, Shannon M. Monnat
The Increase In Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome From Opioids Affects Us All, Sean Withington, Shannon M. Monnat
Population Health Research Brief Series
Opioid use during pregnancy has increased dramatically in the U.S. over the past decade, leading to a surge in cases of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) – babies born dependent on opioids. This issue brief discusses the impacts of NAS in the U.S. and ways we can address this important population health problem.