Differences in Substance Use and Harm Reduction Practices by Race and Ethnicity – Rhode Island Harm Reduction Surveillance System, 2021–2022

Details

• Alternative Title:
  J Public Health Manag Pract
• Personal Author:
  Rodriguez, McClaren ; McKenzie, Michelle ; McKee, Haley ; Ledingham, Emily M. ; St. John, Kristen ; Koziol, Jennifer ; Hallowell, Benjamin D.
• Description:
  Context:
  
  In the United States, minority populations are disproportionately affected by the overdose epidemic, have higher mortality rates, and unequal access to harm reduction and treatment services.
  
  Objective:
  
  This analysis aims to better understand harm reduction utilization and substance use patterns among minority populations to improve overdose outreach and prevention initiatives in Rhode Island.
  
  Design:
  
  The present analysis used data from the Harm Reduction Surveillance System from January 2021 to December 2022 (N=393). Chi-square tests and multivariable regression models were used to investigate differences in substance use behaviors by race and ethnicity.
  
  Setting:
  
  Rhode Island.
  
  Participants:
  
  Participants include individuals who self-reported the use of illicit drugs, currently reside in Rhode Island, and were over the age of 18.
  
  Main Outcome Measures:
  
  Methods of drug use and uptake of harm reduction practices.
  
  Results:
  
  Among survey participants, 41% were non-Hispanic white, 57% were aged 25–44 years, 62% identified as male, and 95% had health insurance coverage. Most participants reported smoking as their method of drug use (90%) and harm reduction practices were underutilized by all race and ethnicity groups. Fewer non-Hispanic Black participants reported carrying naloxone compared to the other race and ethnicity groups. Non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic participants were significantly less likely to inject drugs compared to non-Hispanic white participants (AOR: 0.14, 95% CI: 0.04–0.45; AOR: 0.40, 95% CI: 0.18–0.90).
  
  Conclusions:
  
  Smoking was the most common self-reported method of substance administration for all participants, whereas injection was more prevalent among non-Hispanic white participants. There is a continued need for minority-led and culturally informed harm reduction and treatment services for minority populations.
  
  
• Subjects:
  Ethnicity Harm Reduction Humans Male Rhode Island Substance-Related Disorders Surveys And Questionnaires United States
• Keywords:
  Disparity Overdose Prevention Race
• Source:
  J Public Health Manag Pract. 30(2):E84-E93
• Pubmed ID:
  38153310
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC10872563
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Funding:
  NU17CE924967/ImCDC/Intramural CDC HHSUnited States/ ; P20 GM125507/GM/NIGMS NIH HHSUnited States/
• Volume:
  30
• Issue:
  2
• Collection(s):
  CDC Public Access
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:58dc114c913a09d4caf7a3d3ad2bcf2f7dd3a501a82d23a25b6bc8a6a92454015ec57c53743e3428418071ed8c14860955e7f6b45ef56b106b9c184ce0c2a4a4
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/175211/cdc_175211_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 144.83 KB ]