Experiences of the changing illicit drug supply among racial and ethnic minoritized people in three US states: a qualitative study
Abstract Background Amidst a national surge in overdose deaths among racial and ethnic minoritized people and people who use stimulants (cocaine or methamphetamines), our objective was to understand how these groups are adapting to a rapidly changing illicit drug supply. Methods We conducted semi-st...
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| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-11-01
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| Series: | Harm Reduction Journal |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-024-01126-3 |
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| author | Brendan Saloner Olivia K. Sugarman Lauren Byrne Samantha Harris Molly C. Reid Hridika Shah Eric Hulsey Adrienne Hurst Lindsey Kerins Dionna King Susan Sherman Emily Kaner Daliah Heller Sachini Bandara |
| author_facet | Brendan Saloner Olivia K. Sugarman Lauren Byrne Samantha Harris Molly C. Reid Hridika Shah Eric Hulsey Adrienne Hurst Lindsey Kerins Dionna King Susan Sherman Emily Kaner Daliah Heller Sachini Bandara |
| author_sort | Brendan Saloner |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Amidst a national surge in overdose deaths among racial and ethnic minoritized people and people who use stimulants (cocaine or methamphetamines), our objective was to understand how these groups are adapting to a rapidly changing illicit drug supply. Methods We conducted semi-structured interviews with 64 people who use drugs and who self-identified as Black, Hispanic, Multiracial, or other Non-White race in three states (Michigan, New Jersey, and Wisconsin). Transcribed interviews were coded thematically. Results Most respondents used stimulants alone or in combination with opioids. Respondents perceived that the drug supply had become more unpredictable and dangerous but differed in their personal perception of risk and their adaptations. For example, respondents had very mixed perceptions of their own risk of being harmed by fentanyl, and differing opinions about whether fentanyl test strips would be useful. Xylazine, a novel adulterant in the opioid drug supply that has received public health and media attention, was not well known within the sample. Conclusion Our study highlights the challenges experienced by minoritized people who use drugs in responding to a changing drug supply, underscoring the limits of public health approaches focused solely on individual behavioral change. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-69ea42f0d6af4bdf8bf14c5055c34bb2 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1477-7517 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Harm Reduction Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-69ea42f0d6af4bdf8bf14c5055c34bb22024-11-24T12:16:54ZengBMCHarm Reduction Journal1477-75172024-11-012111910.1186/s12954-024-01126-3Experiences of the changing illicit drug supply among racial and ethnic minoritized people in three US states: a qualitative studyBrendan Saloner0Olivia K. Sugarman1Lauren Byrne2Samantha Harris3Molly C. Reid4Hridika Shah5Eric Hulsey6Adrienne Hurst7Lindsey Kerins8Dionna King9Susan Sherman10Emily Kaner11Daliah Heller12Sachini Bandara13Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthDepartment of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthDepartment of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthDepartment of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthDepartment of Health Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthDepartment of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthVital StrategiesVital StrategiesVital StrategiesVital StrategiesDepartment of Health Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthPacific Institute for Research and EvaluationVital StrategiesDepartment of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public HealthAbstract Background Amidst a national surge in overdose deaths among racial and ethnic minoritized people and people who use stimulants (cocaine or methamphetamines), our objective was to understand how these groups are adapting to a rapidly changing illicit drug supply. Methods We conducted semi-structured interviews with 64 people who use drugs and who self-identified as Black, Hispanic, Multiracial, or other Non-White race in three states (Michigan, New Jersey, and Wisconsin). Transcribed interviews were coded thematically. Results Most respondents used stimulants alone or in combination with opioids. Respondents perceived that the drug supply had become more unpredictable and dangerous but differed in their personal perception of risk and their adaptations. For example, respondents had very mixed perceptions of their own risk of being harmed by fentanyl, and differing opinions about whether fentanyl test strips would be useful. Xylazine, a novel adulterant in the opioid drug supply that has received public health and media attention, was not well known within the sample. Conclusion Our study highlights the challenges experienced by minoritized people who use drugs in responding to a changing drug supply, underscoring the limits of public health approaches focused solely on individual behavioral change.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-024-01126-3Drug supplyMinoritized populationsOverdose |
| spellingShingle | Brendan Saloner Olivia K. Sugarman Lauren Byrne Samantha Harris Molly C. Reid Hridika Shah Eric Hulsey Adrienne Hurst Lindsey Kerins Dionna King Susan Sherman Emily Kaner Daliah Heller Sachini Bandara Experiences of the changing illicit drug supply among racial and ethnic minoritized people in three US states: a qualitative study Harm Reduction Journal Drug supply Minoritized populations Overdose |
| title | Experiences of the changing illicit drug supply among racial and ethnic minoritized people in three US states: a qualitative study |
| title_full | Experiences of the changing illicit drug supply among racial and ethnic minoritized people in three US states: a qualitative study |
| title_fullStr | Experiences of the changing illicit drug supply among racial and ethnic minoritized people in three US states: a qualitative study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Experiences of the changing illicit drug supply among racial and ethnic minoritized people in three US states: a qualitative study |
| title_short | Experiences of the changing illicit drug supply among racial and ethnic minoritized people in three US states: a qualitative study |
| title_sort | experiences of the changing illicit drug supply among racial and ethnic minoritized people in three us states a qualitative study |
| topic | Drug supply Minoritized populations Overdose |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12954-024-01126-3 |
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