Drug and alcohol dependence
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Drug Alcohol Depend · Dec 2019
A mixed-methods assessment of the impact of the opioid epidemic on first responder burnout.
First responders have demanding jobs and report experiencing burnout. The opioid epidemic has added to first responder workloads, which could contribute to increased burnout. This mixed-methods study examined burnout among first responders by: 1) describing burnout among first responders specifically related to workload demands associated with the opioid epidemic; 2) exploring first responder perspectives on how the opioid epidemic has affected their profession; and 3) conducting exploratory analyses to examine how burnout and perspectives on the effect of the opioid epidemic differ across first responder professions. ⋯ First responders reported experiencing burnout, increased workloads, and negative emotional effects related to their role in responding to the opioid epidemic. Despite this, first responders view responding to community opioid misuse as part of their professional role for which they have received specialized training. Future research should continue to explore the impact of the opioid epidemic on first responders, including how to prevent or address burnout.
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Drug Alcohol Depend · Dec 2019
Trends in and factors associated with the adoption of digital aids for smoking cessation and alcohol reduction: A population survey in England.
Digital smoking cessation and alcohol reduction aids are widely available in England. To estimate their public health impact, researchers need to consider their adoption in the target population. We assessed adoption rates, and characteristics of adopters, of digital smoking cessation and alcohol reduction aids in England. ⋯ Digital smoking cessation and alcohol reduction aids are rarely used by smokers or high-risk drinkers attempting to quit/cut down in England, indicating that most of the target population is not being reached. Despite overall digital access improving, adoption rates remained similarly low between 2015-2018.
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Drug Alcohol Depend · Dec 2019
Overlapping prescriptions of opioids, benzodiazepines, and carisoprodol: "Holy Trinity" prescribing in the state of Florida.
High-risk combinations of controlled medications, such as those involving opioid analgesics, are under increased scrutiny because of their contribution to the opioid epidemic in the United States. Responsible prescribing guidelines indicate that the triple drug combination--opioids, benzodiazepines and skeletal muscle relaxants, especially carisoprodol--should not be concurrently prescribed. ⋯ These findings raise important questions as to how frequently prescribers are checking prescription drug monitoring programs, following US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention opioid prescribing guidelines, and/or handling the clinical challenges associated with pharmaceutical management of patients with complex, painful health conditions.
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Drug Alcohol Depend · Dec 2019
Opioid prescribing rates from the emergency department: Down but not out.
To examine opioid prescribing rates following emergency department (ED) discharge stratified by patient's clinical and demographic characteristics over an 11-year period. ⋯ Efforts to reduce opioid prescribing could consider focusing on the pain types, age groups, and regions with high prescription rates identified in this study.
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Drug Alcohol Depend · Dec 2019
Associations between polygenic risk for tobacco and alcohol use and liability to tobacco and alcohol use, and psychiatric disorders in an independent sample of 13,999 Australian adults.
Substance use, substance use disorders (SUDs), and psychiatric disorders commonly co-occur. Genetic risk common to these complex traits is an important explanation; however, little is known about how polygenic risk for tobacco or alcohol use overlaps the genetic risk for the comorbid SUDs and psychiatric disorders. ⋯ Polygenic risks associated with tobacco use are also associated with liability to alcohol consumption, nicotine dependence, and conduct disorder.