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Radical hospitality: Innovative programming to build community and meet the needs of people who use drugs at a government-sanctioned overdose prevention site in San Francisco, California International Journal of Drug Policy (IF 5.931) Pub Date : 2024-03-16 Lynn D. Wenger, Terry Morris, Kelly R. Knight, Cariné E. Megerian, Peter J. Davidson, Leslie W. Suen, Veronica Majano, Barrot H. Lambdin, Alex H. Kral
The Tenderloin Center (TLC), a multi-service center where people could receive or be connected to basic needs, behavioral health care, housing, and medical services, was open in San Francisco for 46 weeks in 2022. Within a week of operation, services expanded to include an overdose prevention site (OPS), also known as safe consumption site. OPSs have operated internationally for over three decades
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Alcohol industry-sponsored music festivals, alcohol marketing and drinking practices among young Nigerians: Implications for policy International Journal of Drug Policy (IF 5.931) Pub Date : 2024-03-15 Emeka W. Dumbili
The global alcohol industry sponsors social/music events targeting young people; however, existing literature focuses on Westernised contexts. Given the decline in young people's drinking in many Western countries, it appears that multinational alcohol companies are importing the strategies they have used in high-income countries to the Global South countries like Nigeria to recoup profits. This study
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Barriers and advocacy needs for hepatitis C services in prisons: Informing the prisons hepatitis C advocacy toolkit International Journal of Drug Policy (IF 5.931) Pub Date : 2024-03-15 Shelley J Walker, Lok B Shrestha, Andrew R Lloyd, Olivia Dawson, Yumi Sheehan, Julia Sheehan, Nonso B C Maduka, Joaquin Cabezas, Matthew J Akiyama, Nadine Kronfli, INHSU Prisons
Carceral settings are a key focus of the 2030 WHO global hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination goals. Despite this, access to HCV testing and treatment services in prisons remains low globally, limiting opportunities to achieve these goals. Advocacy efforts are needed to address service inequities and mobilise support for enhanced HCV programs in prisons globally. INHSU Prisons, a special interest group
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“It gets you high as a kite but not unsick”: Characterizations of and responses to a changing local drug supply by people who use drugs in Rhode Island International Journal of Drug Policy (IF 5.931) Pub Date : 2024-03-14 Alexandra B. Collins, E. Claire Macon, Stacey Levin, Caroline Wunsch, Rachel S. Wightman
The North American overdose crisis has continued at unprecedented rates with more than 100,000 overdose deaths occurring in the United States (US) in 2022. Overdose deaths have increasingly been polysubstance-involved, with novel substances (e.g., xylazine) complicating overdose risk and health outcomes. Understanding the effects of—and responses to—a changing drug supply among people who use drugs
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Punitive legal responses to prenatal drug use in the United States: A survey of state policies and systematic review of their public health impacts International Journal of Drug Policy (IF 5.931) Pub Date : 2024-03-14 Emilie Bruzelius, Kristen Underhill, Melanie S. Askari, Sandhya Kajeepeta, Lisa Bates, Seth J. Prins, Marian Jarlenski, Silvia S. Martins
Punitive legal responses to prenatal drug use may be associated with unintended adverse health consequences. However, in a rapidly shifting policy climate, current information has not been summarized. We conducted a survey of U.S. state policies that utilize criminal or civil legal system penalties to address prenatal drug use. We then systematically identified empirical studies evaluating these policies
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Higher methadone dose at time of release from prison predicts linkage to maintenance treatment for people with HIV and opioid use disorder transitioning to the community in Malaysia International Journal of Drug Policy (IF 5.931) Pub Date : 2024-03-14 Ahsan Ahmad, Daniel J Bromberg, Roman Shrestha, NA Mohd Salleh, Alexander R. Bazazi, Adeeba Kamarulzaman, Sheela Shenoi, Frederick L. Altice
Incarcerated people with HIV and opioid-dependence often experience poor post-release outcomes in the absence of methadone maintenance treatment (MMT). In a prospective trial, we assessed the impact of methadone dose achieved within prison on linkage to MMT after release. From 2010 to 2014, men with HIV ( = 212) and opioid dependence before incarceration were enrolled in MMT within 6 months of release
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An ecological study of the correlation between COVID-19 support payments and overdose events in British Columbia, Canada International Journal of Drug Policy (IF 5.931) Pub Date : 2024-03-13 Lindsey Richardson, Cameron Geddes, Heather Palis, Jane Buxton, Amanda Slaunwhite
Pandemic income support payments have been speculatively linked to an increased incidence of illicit drug poisoning (overdose). However, existing research is limited. Collating Canadian Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) payment data with data on paramedic attended overdose and illicit drug toxicity deaths for the province of British Columbia at the Local Health Area (LHA) level, we conducted a correlation
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Factors associated with receipt of medication for opioid use disorder among pregnant individuals entering treatment programs in the U.S. International Journal of Drug Policy (IF 5.931) Pub Date : 2024-03-13 Laura Curran, Jennifer Manuel
Opioid use disorder (OUD) among pregnant individuals in the U.S. has been on the rise, and carries significant health risks if left untreated. Despite the effectiveness of medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD), rates of treatment utilization remain low, and access varies by state. This study seeks to expand on what is known about the utilization of MOUD by estimating annual percentages of MOUD
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Participant experiences in a pilot study for methamphetamine withdrawal treatment: Implications for retention International Journal of Drug Policy (IF 5.931) Pub Date : 2024-03-12 Liam S Acheson, Simon Clay, Rebecca McKetin, Nicholas Lintzeris, Adrian Dunlop, Jonathan Brett, Michael Christmass, Craig Rodgers, Steve Shoptaw, Michael Farrell, Nadine Ezard, Krista J Siefried
There is little knowledge of the perspectives of people who use methamphetamine and have participated in clinical trials, and none for interventions not intended to address abstinence. A better understanding of these experiences could lead to more patient centred clinical trial design. This study seeks to understand the experiences of people who completed a clinical trial of lisdexamfetamine for the
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Buprenorphine dispensing before and after the April 2021 X-Waiver exemptions: An interrupted time series analysis International Journal of Drug Policy (IF 5.931) Pub Date : 2024-03-08 Payel Jhoom Roy, Katie Suda, Jing Luo, MyoungKeun Lee, Joel Anderton, Donna Olejniczak, Jane M Liebschutz
Until the end of 2022, a special registration, known as the X-waiver, was required to prescribe buprenorphine in the US. Before its removal, US federal regulations trialed an X-waiver exemption, initiated on April 28, 2021, which permitted buprenorphine prescribing for up to 30 patients without additional training. We aimed to understand if these regulatory changes impacted buprenorphine dispensing
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Co-located Heroin Assisted Treatment within primary care: A preliminary analysis of the implications for healthcare access, cost, and treatment delivery in the UK International Journal of Drug Policy (IF 5.931) Pub Date : 2024-03-08 Hannah L. Poulter, Helen J. Moore, Danny Ahmed, Fleur Riley, Tammi Walker, Magdalena Harris
The UK is experiencing its highest rate of drug related deaths in 25 years. Poor and inconsistent access to healthcare negatively impacts health outcomes for people who use drugs. Innovation in models of care which promote access and availability of physical treatment is fundamental. Heroin Assisted Treatment (HAT) is a treatment modality targeted at the most marginalised people who use drugs, at high
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The Coloniality of drug prohibition International Journal of Drug Policy (IF 5.931) Pub Date : 2024-03-06 G, e, o, r, g, e, , C, h, r, i, s, t, o, p, h, e, r, , D, e, r, t, a, d, i, a, n
There have been several recent commentaries which have highlighted the relevance of the postcolonial perspective to drug prohibition and called for the decolonisation of drug policy (; ; ; ). While these are significant interventions in the field, sparse drugs scholarship has engaged more directly with well-developed literature and concepts from Critical Indigenous Studies () and Indigenous Standpoint
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Volatile drug use and overdose during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States International Journal of Drug Policy (IF 5.931) Pub Date : 2024-03-05 Kristin E. Schneider, Emily M. Martin, Sean T. Allen, Miles Morris, Katherine Haney, Brendan Saloner, Susan G. Sherman
Overdose deaths in the United States rose substantially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Disruptions to the drug supply and service provision introduced significant instability into the lives of people who use drugs (PWUD), including volatility in their drug use behaviors. Using data from a multistate survey of PWUD, we examined sociodemographic and drug use correlates of volatile drug use during COVID-19
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Public support for reinvesting resources from enforcing drug possession to health-promoting alternatives: A nationally representative poll of adults in the United States International Journal of Drug Policy (IF 5.931) Pub Date : 2024-03-02 Catherine Tomko, Saba Rouhani, Lindsay LaSalle, Susan G. Sherman
The legal enforcement of drug possession is associated with a host of negative consequences for people who use drugs (PWUD), has demonstrated little effectiveness at curbing drug use, and has contributed to lasting financial, social, and health-related racial disparities in Black and Brown communities in the United States (U.S.). One policy alternative is reinvesting resources typically used for enforcing
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The association between excise taxes and smoking and vaping transitions–Findings from the 2016–2020 ITC United States surveys International Journal of Drug Policy (IF 5.931) Pub Date : 2024-02-28 Yanyun He, Geoffrey T. Fong, K. Michael Cummings, Andrew Hyland, Ce Shang
While a growing number of studies examined the effect of e-cigarette (EC) excise taxes on tobacco use behaviors using cross-sectional surveys or sales data, there are currently no studies that evaluate the impact of EC taxes on smoking and vaping transitions. Using data from the US arm of the 2016–2020 International Tobacco Control Four Country Smoking and Vaping Survey (ITC 4CV), we employed a multinomial
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The role of gifts in building influence with politicians: Thematic analysis of interviews with current and former parliamentarians International Journal of Drug Policy (IF 5.931) Pub Date : 2024-02-28 Ara Marie Leal Rodriguez, Peter J. Adams, Edwin Sayes, Kypros Kypri
Gifts are a powerful way to acknowledge and strengthen interpersonal relationships. As with any relational space, gifting plays various roles in forming and maintaining relationships in political contexts, but its contribution to relationship-building has attracted little attention. This paper examines how politicians in Aotearoa New Zealand both engage with gifting and how they navigate the perceptions
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Longitudinal patterns of use of stimulants and opioids in the AIDS linked to the IntraVenous experience cohort, 2005–2019 International Journal of Drug Policy (IF 5.931) Pub Date : 2024-02-25 Jacqueline E. Rudolph, Javier A. Cepeda, Jacquie Astemborski, Gregory D. Kirk, Shruti H. Mehta, Danielle German, Becky L. Genberg
Overdoses involving opioids and stimulants are on the rise, yet few studies have examined longitudinal trends in use of both substances. We sought to describe use and co-use of opioids and stimulants, 2005–2019, in the AIDS Linked to the Intravenous Experience (ALIVE) cohort – a community-based cohort of people with a history of injection drug use living in or near Baltimore, MD. We included 2083 ALIVE
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People who use drugs’ prioritization of regulation amid decriminalization reforms in British Columbia, Canada: A qualitative study International Journal of Drug Policy (IF 5.931) Pub Date : 2024-02-24 Jessica C. Xavier, Jennifer McDermid, Jane Buxton, Iesha Henderson, Amber Streukens, Jessica Lamb, Alissa Greer
North America and the province of British Columbia (BC), Canada, is experiencing an unprecedented number of overdose deaths. In BC, overdose has become the leading cause of death for people between the ages of 10–59 years old. In January 2023, BC decriminalized personal possession of a number of illegal substances with one aim being to address overdose deaths through stigma reduction and promoting
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Individual differences in legal and illicit cannabis purchasing behaviour in British Columbia, Canada: Findings from a 2021 cross-sectional survey International Journal of Drug Policy (IF 5.931) Pub Date : 2024-02-23 Myles A. Maillet
Despite thousands of licensed cannabis retail stores operating across Canada, there remains a significant illicit cannabis market. Some cannabis users continue to buy cannabis from dealers, illicit stores, and/or illicit online retailers. Data are from the 2021 British Columbia Cannabis Use Survey. Respondents ( = 8473) were 19 years or older, lived in British Columbia at the time of the survey, and
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High levels of all-cause mortality among people who inject drugs from 2018 to 2022 International Journal of Drug Policy (IF 5.931) Pub Date : 2024-02-23 Sotirios Roussos, Theodoros Angelopoulos, Evangelos Cholongitas, Spyridon Savvanis, Nikolaos Papadopoulos, Andreas Kapatais, Athina Chounta, Panagiota Ioannidou, Melani Deutsch, Spilios Manolakopoulos, Vasileios Sevastianos, Maria-Vasiliki Papageorgiou, Ioannis Vlachogiannakos, Maria Mela, Ioannis Elefsiniotis, Spyridon Vrakas, Dimitrios Karagiannakis, Fani Pliarchopoulou, Savvas Chaikalis, Effrosyni
Mortality among people who inject drugs (PWID) is high, with overdose and HIV infection being the main causes of death. In Greece, there have been no data on mortality, and two HIV outbreaks have been recorded in this population in the past decade. In this study, we aim to estimate the all-cause crude mortality rate and the standardised mortality ratio in this population during 2018–2022. PWID recruited
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Responding to ‘wicked problems’: policy and governance on drug-related deaths in English and Welsh prisons, 2015-2021 International Journal of Drug Policy (IF 5.931) Pub Date : 2024-02-23 Karen Duke, Susanne MacGregor
Prison settings have been neglected in the growing literature on drug-related deaths. This paper explores policy and practice issues regarding the governance of drug-related deaths in prisons in England and Wales from 2015-2021. Thematic documentary analysis was conducted on national level policy documents published between 2015-2021 (e.g. drug strategies, prison policy documents, Her Majesty's Inspectorate
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The impact of an unsanctioned compassion club on non-fatal overdose International Journal of Drug Policy (IF 5.931) Pub Date : 2024-02-22 Jeremy Kalicum, Eris Nyx, Mary Clare Kennedy, Thomas Kerr
In 2022, the Drug User Liberation Front opened an unsanctioned compassion club in Vancouver where members could purchase illicit drugs that had been rigorously tested to ensure quality and a lack of potentially fatal contaminants. We sought to evaluate the impact of access to this novel safer supply intervention on non-fatal overdose. Data were obtained from 47 club members via surveys completed at
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Drug use and the constitution of homo politicus in Swedish politics 1966–1979 International Journal of Drug Policy (IF 5.931) Pub Date : 2024-02-22 Filip Roumeliotis
The emergence of the drug user as a political problem in Sweden during the 1960s presented politicians with the problem of how to fit this new character into the existing democratic order. The aim of this article is to examine how Swedish politics sought to regulate democratic participation by establishing norms that conditioned who is recognized as a political subject as well as what counts as political
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Effects of strength of relationship ties in recovery homes: A conundrum International Journal of Drug Policy (IF 5.931) Pub Date : 2024-02-21 Leonard A. Jason, John M. Light, Ted Bobak, Justin Bell
Recovery homes are a widespread source of support for those attempting to maintain abstinence. For those who are able to remain in these settings for at least 6 months, outcomes tend to be favorable; however, many leave prematurely. There is a need to better understand the social integration processes that play a major role in giving recovery home residents access to available recovery-related social
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Health warning labels on cannabis products. What is the best design? International Journal of Drug Policy (IF 5.931) Pub Date : 2024-02-20 Carlos Gantiva, Joseph Illidge-Cortes, Danna González-Millares, Valentina Maldonado-Hoyos, Laura Valencia
Health warning label on cannabis products has been recently studied, and with the latest trends of regulation around the world, there is a need to determine the most effective ways to apply this strategy. The current study aimed to examine the effects of different health warning label designs (pictorial vs text-only, background color, warning themes) on cannabis products. An online experiment study
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Tinkering with care: Implementing extended-release buprenorphine depot treatment for opioid dependence International Journal of Drug Policy (IF 5.931) Pub Date : 2024-02-20 K. Lancaster, S. Gendera, C. Treloar, T. Rhodes, J. Shahbazi, M. Byrne, S. Nielsen, L. Degenhardt, M. Farrell
We examine how extended-release buprenorphine depot (BUP-XR) is put to use and made to work in implementation practices, attending to how care practices are challenged and adapted as a long-acting technology is introduced into service in opioid agonist treatment (OAT) in Australia. Our approach is informed by ideas in science and technology studies (STS) emphasising the irreducible entanglement of
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Popular media misinformation on neonatal abstinence syndrome, 2015–2021 International Journal of Drug Policy (IF 5.931) Pub Date : 2024-02-16 Katie McCreedy, Aanchalika Chauhan, Gabriel Holder, Sunyou Kang, Eric Reinhart, Leo Beletsky
As the overdose crisis unfolded, narratives mischaracterizing neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) as “addicted babies” with echoes to the “crack babies” panic proliferated in mainstream media. his study examines NAS misinformation dynamics and characteristics over a seven-year period. Based on a comprehensive query, Media Cloud was used to compile mainstream media content relating to NAS between 2015
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Trends and factors associated with illicit drug use in South Africa: Findings from multiple national population-based household surveys, 2002–2017 International Journal of Drug Policy (IF 5.931) Pub Date : 2024-02-16 Kennedy Kipkoech Mutai, Jack Stone, Andrew Scheibe, Hannah Fraser, Leigh F. Johnson, Peter Vickerman
Illicit drug use results in considerable global morbidity, but there is little data on its trends and factors associated with it in sub-Saharan Africa. We consider these questions using national data from South Africa for 2002–2017. We analysed data among individuals aged 15 years or older from five national population-based household surveys in South Africa (2002–2017; = 89,113). Recent drug use was
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Media framing xylazine as a “zombie drug” is amplifying stigma onto people who use drugs International Journal of Drug Policy (IF 5.931) Pub Date : 2024-02-16 Jeanette M. Bowles, Elizabeth C. Copulsky, Megan K. Reed
Amid increasing efforts to understand xylazine-associated harms, examining the potentially catastrophic role of stigma resulting from media outlets framing xylazine as the “zombie drug” is imperative. Zombies are cinematically depicted as soulless, dangerous, and required to be killed off entirely for public safety, making the “zombie” analogy especially grave amid the fatal overdose crisis. Xylazine
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Evaluating the implementation of a prescription only regulatory model for nicotine vaping products: A qualitative study on the experiences and views of healthcare professionals International Journal of Drug Policy (IF 5.931) Pub Date : 2024-02-16 Kylie Morphett, Alice Holland, Stephanie Ward, Kathryn J. Steadman, Nicholas A. Zwar, Coral Gartner
Deciding how to regulate nicotine vaping products (NVPs) is a challenge for many countries. Balanced regulation should consider the potential harms to young people from uptake of NVPs alongside the possible benefits of NVPs as a smoking cessation aid. One option is to make NVPs only available via medical prescription to adults who smoke. From October 2021, Australia adopted a unique model that allows
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The confluence of legacy, corporate social responsibility, and public health: The case of Migros and alcohol-free retailing in Switzerland International Journal of Drug Policy (IF 5.931) Pub Date : 2024-02-12 Harald Klingemann, Matthew Lesch
Alcohol policy studies have traditionally focused on formal policymaking processes. Retail cooperatives, however, have rarely been studied as sites of public health interventions. Migros, a cooperatively owned chain of supermarkets in Switzerland, has long forbidden alcohol sales in its supermarkets. Focusing on processes of framing, this study explores a recent unsuccessful attempt to reverse the
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Using publicly available data to predict recreational cannabis legalization at the county-level: A machine learning approach International Journal of Drug Policy (IF 5.931) Pub Date : 2024-02-10 Barrett Wallace Montgomery, Xiaoran Tong, Olga Vsevolozhskaya, James C. Anthony
There is substantial geographic variability in local cannabis policies within states that have legalized recreational cannabis. This study develops an interpretable machine learning model that uses county-level population demographics, sociopolitical factors, and estimates of substance use and mental illness prevalences to predict the legality of recreational cannabis sales within each U.S. county
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Prosecuting overdose: An exploratory study of prosecutorial motivations for drug-induced homicide prosecutions in North Carolina International Journal of Drug Policy (IF 5.931) Pub Date : 2024-02-10 Brandon Morrissey, Taleed El-Sabawi, Jennifer J. Carroll
Prosecutorial use of drug-induced homicide (DIH) laws varies, and their public health impacts are poorly understood. This mixed-methods study explores associations between the number of DIH charges filed in North Carolina's 42 prosecutorial districts and district-level characteristics. Further, it documents the experience and views of North Carolina prosecutors on DIH cases. We conducted a descriptive
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Patient and healthcare provider perceptions of acceptability of fingerstick point-of-care hepatitis C testing at Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services in Australia International Journal of Drug Policy (IF 5.931) Pub Date : 2024-02-10 L Lafferty, M Beadman, J Ward, E Flynn, S Hosseini-Hooshyar, M Martinello, C Treloar
Hepatitis C (HCV) is highly prevalent in First Nations communities globally. Barriers in the uptake of testing and treatment create challenges to realise elimination of HCV in these communities. In efforts to reduce barriers to testing and treatment, the SCALE-C study implemented an HCV test-and-treat intervention integrating point-of-care HCV testing and FibroScan®. SCALE-C was carried out at four
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Public opinion on the expenditure of adult-use cannabis tax revenue: Evidence from New Jersey International Journal of Drug Policy (IF 5.931) Pub Date : 2024-02-09 Nathan W. Link, Jordan M. Hyatt, Kathleen Powell
To describe New Jersey residents’ relative priorities for the allocation of tax revenue generated by recreational cannabis sales. We aim to assess preferences for public health initiatives, including drug treatment, compared to a range of alternatives, including traditional policing, especially within the social and demographic groupings of people generally most impacted by punitive drug enforcement
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Prescribed safer opioid supply: A scoping review of the evidence International Journal of Drug Policy (IF 5.931) Pub Date : 2024-02-08 Shaleesa Ledlie, Ria Garg, Clare Cheng, Gillian Kolla, Tony Antoniou, Zachary Bouck, Tara Gomes
Safer opioid supply programs provide prescription pharmaceutical opioids, often with supportive services, to people at high risk of experiencing harms related to substance use. However, questions regarding the effectiveness and safety of this practice remain. We conducted a scoping review of literature describing client outcomes from formal opioid supply programs providing prescriptions for pharmaceutical
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‘Just a colour?’: Exploring women's relationship with pink alcohol brand marketing within their feminine identity making International Journal of Drug Policy (IF 5.931) Pub Date : 2024-02-08 A.M. Atkinson, B.R. Meadows, H. Sumnall
The pinking of alcohol products and marketing (i.e. the (over) use of the colour pink as a feminine aesthetic) is a form of gendered marketing that is used by the industry to target and appeal to the female market, and encourage sales and alcohol consumption. However, little is known about how women relate to and view such marketing, and how such products feature in their performance of femininities
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Point-of-care HCV RNA testing improves hepatitis C testing rates and allows rapid treatment initiation among people who inject drugs attending a medically supervised injecting facility International Journal of Drug Policy (IF 5.931) Pub Date : 2024-01-28 MB MacIsaac, B Whitton, J Anderson, S Cogger, D Vella-Horne, M Penn, T Weeks, K Elmore, D Pemberton, RJ Winter, T Papaluca, J Howell, M Hellard, M Stoové, D Wilson, A Pedrana, JS Doyle, N Clark, JA Holmes, AJ Thompson
Background To achieve hepatitis C virus (HCV) elimination targets, simplified care engaging people who inject drugs is required. We evaluated whether fingerstick HCV RNA point-of-care testing (PoCT) increased the proportion of clients attending a supervised injecting facility who were tested for hepatitis C. Methods Prospective single-arm study with recruitment between 9 November 2020 and 28 January
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Perceptions of prospective pharmaceutical stimulant substitution treatments among people who use illicit stimulants in Vancouver, Canada International Journal of Drug Policy (IF 5.931) Pub Date : 2024-01-28 Taylor Fleming, Andrew Ivsins, Allison Barker, Manal Mansoor, Samara Mayer, Sheila Vakharia, Ryan McNeil
Background Stimulant-involved overdose deaths are increasing, driven by polysubstance use and adulteration of the illicit drug supply. While emerging evidence for prescription stimulant substitution is promising, there are no approved treatment options for stimulant use disorder that address the realities of an unpredictable drug supply. This study explores treatment experiences of people who use illicit
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The ‘ban’ for public health that wasn't? Views and impressions on cannabis retail promotion/advertising realities amidst legalization policy in Canada International Journal of Drug Policy (IF 5.931) Pub Date : 2024-01-24 Benedikt Fischer
Abstract not available
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Characterizing opioid overdose hotspots for place-based overdose prevention and treatment interventions: A geo-spatial analysis of Rhode Island, USA International Journal of Drug Policy (IF 5.931) Pub Date : 2024-01-20 Elizabeth A. Samuels, William C. Goedel, Victoria Jent, Lauren Conkey, Benjamin D. Hallowell, Sarah Karim, Jennifer Koziol, Sara Becker, Rachel R. Yorlets, Roland Merchant, Lee Ann Jordison Keeler, Neha Reddy, James McDonald, Nicole Alexander-Scott, Magdalena Cerda, Brandon D.L. Marshall
Objective Examine differences in neighborhood characteristics and services between overdose hotspot and non-hotspot neighborhoods and identify neighborhood-level population factors associated with increased overdose incidence. Methods We conducted a population-based retrospective analysis of Rhode Island, USA residents who had a fatal or non-fatal overdose from 2016 to 2020 using an environmental scan
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Social influence in the darknet market: The impact of product descriptions on cocaine sales International Journal of Drug Policy (IF 5.931) Pub Date : 2024-01-20 Filippo Andrei, Giuseppe Alessandro Veltri
The rise of the darknet market, supported by technologies such as the Tor Browser and cryptocurrencies, has created a secure environment in which illicit transactions can occur. However, due to the lack of government oversight in this hidden online domain, darknet markets face significant challenges in upholding social order. Hence, this study explores the social dynamics that promote social order
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Stigma and self-stigma among women within the context of the german “zero alcohol during pregnancy” recommendation: A qualitative analysis of online forums and blogs International Journal of Drug Policy (IF 5.931) Pub Date : 2024-01-18 Annette Binder, Carolin Kilian, Sara Hanke, Meryem Banabak, Clara Berkenhoff, Kay Uwe Petersen, Anil Batra
In many countries, including Germany, it is recommended to abstain from alcohol during pregnancy to avoid harm to the baby. In this qualitative research study, analysis of online forums was conducted to explore women's perception of the German “zero alcohol during pregnancy” recommendation with regard to stigma and self-stigma. We used a grounded theory approach to analyze online forum discussions
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Stigma as a local process: Stigma associated with opioid dependency in a rural-mixed Indiana county International Journal of Drug Policy (IF 5.931) Pub Date : 2024-01-17 Ashley F Railey, Alison Greene
Because the nature and magnitude of stigmatizing views associated with opioid dependency vary by social, cultural, and structural factors, strategies to reduce public stigma towards opioid dependency should vary by context. We leverage a unique dataset with evidence of multiple stigmatizing views to understand how to target interventions to reduce stigma in a state disproportionately impacted by the
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Piloting a simplified bio-behavioural survey methodology, the BBS-Lite, among people who inject drugs in Georgia International Journal of Drug Policy (IF 5.931) Pub Date : 2024-01-16 Maka Gogia, Ekaterine Ruadze, Tamar Kasrashvili, Bradley Mathers, Keith Sabin, Annette Verster, Virginia Macdonald, Maia Butsashvili, George Kamkamidze, Irma Khonelidze, Ketevan Stvilia
Background During 2021 and 2023 two simplified Biological and Behavioural Study (BBS-Lite) surveys, and in 2022 one Standard Integrated Biological and Behavioural Study (IBBS), were conducted among people who inject drugs in seven cities in Georgia. From these, an opportunity to compare the implementation of these survey methods and results was able to be gained. Methods The two survey types were compared
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Stronger, longer, better opioid antagonists? Nalmefene is NOT a naloxone replacement International Journal of Drug Policy (IF 5.931) Pub Date : 2024-01-16 Alexander F. Infante, Abigail T. Elmes, Renee Petzel Gimbar, Sarah E. Messmer, Christine Neeb, Jennie B. Jarrett
The fatal overdose crisis claims nearly 200 lives daily in the United States (U.S). Evolutions in the illicit drug supply, such as the addition of sedative adulterants and a shift to synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, have driven increasing rates of both fatal and non-fatal overdose. Specifically, synthetic opioid usage of fentanyl was implicated in 68 % of the U.S. drug overdose deaths in 2022 alone
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Association between high-threshold practices and buprenorphine treatment termination International Journal of Drug Policy (IF 5.931) Pub Date : 2024-01-16 Valencia Lyle, Samantha Harris, Omeid Heidari, Kathryn Boulton, Eric Hulsey, Brendan Saloner, Jason Gibbons
Regular counseling and frequent drug testing are common requirements for patients with opioid use disorder in buprenorphine treatment. State policies throughout the United States often reinforce these high-threshold practices, as was the case with Michigan, USA. We sought to explore the association between counseling requirements, drug testing practices, and buprenorphine treatment termination rates
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There goes the neighborhood? The public safety enhancing effects of a mobile harm reduction intervention International Journal of Drug Policy (IF 5.931) Pub Date : 2024-01-16 Alex L. Fixler, Leah A. Jacobs, Daniel B. Jones, Aaron Arnold, Emily E. Underwood
Buprenorphine is a gold-standard treatment for opioid use disorders, but most people with these disorders do not access it. Barriers to treatment access may be diminished by low-threshold mobile treatment programs but concern regarding their impact on local public safety challenges their adoption. This quasi-experimental study uses difference-in-differences analyses to measure the impact of four mobile
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The effectiveness of court-mandated compulsory treatment in promoting abstinence among people with substance use disorders in Iran International Journal of Drug Policy (IF 5.931) Pub Date : 2024-01-16 Nouzar Nakhaee, Mohammad Karamouzian, Hamid Sharifi, Khosro Malekshahi, Kamal Aldin Moaddeb, Alireza Vahidzadeh, Abedin Iranpour
In Iran, people living with substance use disorders who engage in public drug use may be subjected to court-mandated treatment in compulsory drug detention and rehabilitation centers (CDDRC). This study aims to assess residential CDDRC's effectiveness in promoting sustained abstinence among people who use drugs (PWUD) in Kerman, Iran. Between October 1, 2021, and September 30, 2022, 1,083 adult male
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Availability of substance use screening and treatment within HIV clinical sites across seven geographic regions within the IeDEA consortium International Journal of Drug Policy (IF 5.931) Pub Date : 2024-01-15 Kathryn E. Lancaster, Melissa Stockton, Molly Remch, C. William Wester, Denis Nash, Ellen Brazier, Adebola Adedimeji, Robert Finlayson, Aimee Freeman, Breanna Hogan, Charles Kasozi, Edith Kamaru Kwobah, Jayne Lewis Kulzer, Tuti Merati, Judiacel Tine, Armel Poda, Regina Succi, Christelle Twizere, Mpho Tlali, Per von Groote, E. Jennifer Edelman, Angela M. Parcesepe, IeDEA Consortium
Overwhelming evidence highlights the negative impact of substance use on HIV care and treatment outcomes. Yet, the extent to which alcohol use disorder (AUD) and other substance use disorders (SUD) services have been integrated within HIV clinical settings is limited. We describe AUD/SUD screening and treatment availability in HIV clinical sites participating in the International epidemiology Databases
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Has the HCV cascade of care changed among people who inject drugs in England since the introduction of direct-acting antivirals? International Journal of Drug Policy (IF 5.931) Pub Date : 2024-01-12 H.D. Gliddon, Z. Ward, E. Heinsbroek, S. Croxford, C. Edmundson, V.D. Hope, R. Simmons, H. Mitchell, M. Hickman, P. Vickerman, J. Stone
Background In England, over 80 % of those with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection have injected drugs. We quantified the HCV cascade of care (CoC) among people who inject drugs (PWID) in England and determined whether this improved after direct-acting antivirals (DAAs) were introduced. Methods We analysed data from nine rounds of national annual cross-sectional surveys of PWID recruited from drug services
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Off-premises demand elasticities for pure alcohol in five Latin American countries: The case of Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Honduras, and Uruguay International Journal of Drug Policy (IF 5.931) Pub Date : 2024-01-13 Guillermo Paraje, Daniel Araya, Maristela Monteiro
There is ample evidence from high-income countries that fiscal policies such as alcohol taxes can affect the consumption of alcohol by increasing alcohol prices. In the case of Latin American countries, much less is known about how sensitive alcohol demand is to alcohol price changes. This study aims to expand the evidence base on the sensitivity of off-premises pure alcohol demand to price and expenditure
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How to improve the surveillance of the Taliban ban's impact on European drug markets International Journal of Drug Policy (IF 5.931) Pub Date : 2024-01-13 L, u, c, a, , G, i, o, m, m, o, n, i
In April 2023, the Taliban banned poppy cultivation and the trade of all narcotics. This caused a 95% reduction in opium production. Usually, that would be good news. But there is a substantial worry: synthetic opioids might fill the void left by heroin. This is concerning because these drugs have led to health emergencies in areas where they are prevalent. This paper highlights the limitations of
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Integrated biobehavioral surveillance among people who inject drugs in Ukraine, 2007-2020 International Journal of Drug Policy (IF 5.931) Pub Date : 2024-01-11 Kostyantyn Dumchev, Oksana Kovtun, Serhii Salnikov, Ivan Titar, Tetiana Saliuk
Background Repeated integrated biobehavioral surveys (IBBS) have been implemented among people who inject drugs (PWID) in Ukraine to monitor the trends in key epidemiologic and programmatic indicators. Methods The study analyzed seven PWID IBBS rounds from 2007 to 2020 in seven Ukrainian cities. Participants were recruited using respondent-driven sampling, tested for HIV and anti-HCV antibodies, and
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A scoping review of law enforcement drug seizures and overdose mortality in the United States International Journal of Drug Policy (IF 5.931) Pub Date : 2024-01-11 Manuel Cano, Patricia Timmons, Madeline Hooten, Kaylin Sweeney, Sehun Oh
Leveraging law enforcement drug seizure data to better respond to the overdose crisis requires an understanding of available evidence and knowledge gaps regarding relationships between drug seizures and overdose mortality. This scoping review summarized peer-reviewed literature on associations between law enforcement drug seizures and drug-related mortality in the United States (US) in the era of
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Reported exposures to derived cannabis products in California before and after the 2018 federal reclassification of hemp International Journal of Drug Policy (IF 5.931) Pub Date : 2024-01-08 Kunal Madan, Samantha Schmidt, Raeiti Fouladi Chami, Raymond Ho, Justin C. Lewis, Dorie E. Apollonio
As of June 2023, a majority of states had legalized the sale of cannabis, which past research has found to be associated with increased exposures. In 2018, a change in federal policy increased access to cannabidiol (CBD) and derived psychoactive cannabis products, but there has been limited study of reported exposures following this change. This observational retrospective study analyzed exposures
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Doing more with less: A proposal to advance cigarette packaging regulations in the United States International Journal of Drug Policy (IF 5.931) Pub Date : 2024-01-06 William G. Shadel, Steven C. Martino, Claude M. Setodji, Michael Dunbar, Desmond Jenson, Jody CS. Wong, Grace Falgoust
Cigarette packages are potent marketing tools. Following guidance from the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, many countries have sought to diminish this marketing power by mandating that (1) large graphic health warnings be affixed to the packages (i.e., text warnings combined with graphic images of the health consequences of smoking) and (2) all packages be fully “plain” in their design
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All-cause mortality before and after DAA availability among people living with HIV and HCV: An international comparison between 2010 and 2019 International Journal of Drug Policy (IF 5.931) Pub Date : 2024-01-06 Maria-Bernarda Requena, Camelia Protopopescu, Ashleigh C. Stewart, Daniela K. van Santen, Marina B. Klein, Inmaculada Jarrin, Juan Berenguer, Linda Wittkop, Dominique Salmon, Andri Rauch, Maria Prins, Marc van der Valk, Rachel Sacks-Davis, Margaret E Hellard, Patrizia Carrieri, Karine Lacombe, InCHEHC Collaboration
Among people living with HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV), people who inject drugs (PWID) have historically experienced higher mortality rates. Direct-acting antivirals (DAA), which have led to a 90 % HCV cure rate independently of HIV co-infection, have improved mortality rates. However, DAA era mortality trends among PWID with HIV/HCV remain unknown. Using data from the International Collaboration
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Longitudinal polysubstance use patterns and non-fatal overdose: A repeated measures latent class analysis International Journal of Drug Policy (IF 5.931) Pub Date : 2024-01-05 Mohammad Karamouzian, Zishan Cui, Kanna Hayashi, Kora DeBeck, Hudson Reddon, Jane A Buxton, Thomas Kerr
Background Polysubstance use (PSU) is common among people who use opioids (PWUO) and has been associated with drug-related harms. We aimed to identify latent longitudinal PSU classes among a cohort of PWUO and characterize non-fatal overdose risks among different sub-classes over time. Methods We used longitudinal data (2005–2018) from three ongoing prospective cohorts of people who use drugs in Vancouver