Tuesday Nov 29, 2022
Lead Story: Concurrent use of opioids and stimulants and risk of fatal overdose: A cohort study
Concurrent use of opioids and stimulants and risk of fatal overdose: A cohort study
BMC Public Health
The authors note a dramatic increase in the use of methamphetamine in people with OUD and an increased presence of a stimulant in opioid toxicity deaths. A random sample of 20% of persons in the overdose registry of the Province of British Columbia, Canada, was selected for years 2010 to 2018. Persons who used opioids, stimulants, or both (n=7460) were identified by ICD codes and fatal overdose events determined from coroners’ data. People using both opioids and stimulants had twice the risk of fatal overdose compared to those using opioids only (HR=2.02, p<0.001). People using stimulants alone had a similar risk of fatal overdose to those using opioids alone (HR=1.05, p=0.76). The authors note that while concern has been directed toward the opioid crisis, people who use stimulants have a similar risk of fatal overdose. They call for increased support for people who use stimulants.