“Like Yin and Yang”: Perceptions of Methamphetamine Benefits and Consequences Among People Who Use Opioids in Rural Communities

Details

• Alternative Title:
  J Addict Med
• Personal Author:
  Baker, Robin ; Leichtling, Gillian ; Hildebran, Christi ; Pinela, Cristi ; Waddell, Elizabeth Needham ; Sidlow, Claire ; Leahy, Judith M. ; Korthuis, P. Todd
• Description:
  Objectives:
  
  The objective of this study was to investigate methamphetamine use among people who use opioids in rural Oregon communities to explore reasons for use and perceptions of methamphetamine consequences.
  
  Methods:
  
  We conducted interviews and surveys with participants who inject drugs or misuse prescription opioids in 2 rural Oregon counties with high opioid overdose rates. Survey participants were identified through participant-driven sampling initiated in syringe service programs and field outreach (n = 144). Semi-structured interviews with participants were recruited from the same locations (n = 52).
  
  Results:
  
  Of 144 surveys completed, 112 reported using opioids in the past 30 days; 96% of the 112 also report methamphetamine use. Among the 124 reporting injection drug use, 50% indicated they injected both methamphetamine and heroin in the past 30 days. Interview participants reported early exposure to methamphetamine and indicated that methamphetamine was more widely available, less expensive, and less stigmatized compared to heroin. Participants reported using methamphetamine to improve work-life functioning and because they enjoy the high produced from simultaneous use. Several participants reported a conscious effort to shift to methamphetamine from heroin as a harm reduction strategy.
  
  Conclusion:
  
  As rural communities respond to evolving drug supply and demand, there is increasing need for public health efforts to address the emerging issue of concurrent methamphetamine and opioid use.
  
  
• Keywords:
  Analgesics, Opioid Drug Overdose Heroin Humans Injection Drug Abuse Methamphetamine Opioids Perception Qualitative Research Rural Rural Population

  More +
• Source:
  J Addict Med. 15(1):34-39
• Pubmed ID:
  32530888
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC7734765
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Funding:
  UG3 DA044831/DA/NIDA NIH HHSUnited States/ ; UG1 DA015815/DA/NIDA NIH HHSUnited States/ ; R01 CE003008/CE/NCIPC CDC HHSUnited States/ ; UH3 DA044831/DA/NIDA NIH HHSUnited States/ ; U01 DA047982/DA/NIDA NIH HHSUnited States/ ; U01 TR002631/TR/NCATS NIH HHSUnited States/
• Volume:
  15
• Issue:
  1
• Collection(s):
  CDC Public Access
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:9ed49f7d5cdc58e00f85489f152e366b562757e07ba05e0d4badbd702c76821d
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/111313/cdc_111313_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 64.57 KB ]