The Need to Rethink Harm Reduction for People Using Drugs Alone to Reduce Overdose Fatalities.

Background: During the ongoing opioid epidemic, Cuyahoga County (second largest in Ohio) reported overdose mortality rates (54/per 100,000) higher than the national average. Prior research demonstrates that people who use drugs often use alone but there is minimal research on people who died of overdose while using alone. The objective of this study is to examine sociodemographic, toxicologic, and injury characteristics, and emergency medical response to overdose decedents who died using drugs alone. Method: Data from the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office (2016-2020, N = 2944) on unintentional overdose deaths in adults was tabulated including socio-demographic, toxicologic, and injury-related information. Decedents using drugs alone were identified and compared to those not using alone via Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests. We further fit a multivariate logistic regression model to evaluate socio-demographic, toxicologic, and injury-related factors associated with increased odds of using alone. All results are reported with 95% confidence intervals. Result: Among decedents, 75% (n = 2205) were using drugs alone. Decedents using alone were more likely to be using drugs at home (p = 0.001) or be found dead at the scene (p < 0.001) and less likely to receive naloxone (p < 0.001) have other person/bystander, not using, present (p = 0.002). Using drugs at home (aOR = 1.61[1.19-2.20]) was associated with higher odds of using alone; and being married (aOR = 0.57[0.38-0.86]), having history of illicit drug use (aOR = 0.25[0.08-0.81]) and other person present, who was not using (aOR = 0.58[0.42-0.79]) were associated with lower odds of using alone. Conclusion: New harm reduction approaches targeting people using drugs alone are needed to reduce overdose deaths.

The Role of Oncology Nurses in Discussing Clinical Trials.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To describe oncology nurses' experiences discussing clinical trials with their patients, and to assess barriers to these discussions.
. RESEARCH APPROACH: A qualitative study designed to elicit narratives from oncology nurses. 
. SETTING: Community- and academic-based oncology clinics throughout the United States.
. PARTICIPANTS: 33 oncology nurses involved in direct patient care in community-based and large hospital-based settings. The sample was drawn from members of the Oncology Nursing Society. 
. METHODOLOGIC APPROACH: In-depth interviews were conducted and analyzed using a immersion/crystallization approach to identify themes and patterns. The analyses highlight specific issues, examples, and contexts that present challenges to clinical trial discussions with patients.
. FINDINGS: Oncology nurses view their roles as patient educators and advocates to be inclusive of discussion of clinical trials. Barriers to such discussions include lack of knowledge and strategies for addressing patients' common misconceptions and uncertainty about the timing of discussions.
. INTERPRETATION: These data indicate that enabling nurses to actively engage patients in discussions of clinical trials requires educational interventions to build self-efficacy and close knowledge gaps. 
. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: Oncology nurses can play a critical role in advancing cancer care by supporting patients in decision making about clinical trial participation. This will require training and education to build their knowledge, reduce barriers, and increase their self-efficacy to fulfill this responsibility in various clinical settings.

During pregnancy, recreational drug-using women stop taking ecstasy (3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine) and reduce alcohol consumption, but continue to smoke tobacco and cannabis: initial findings from the Development and Infancy Study.

While recreational drug use in UK women is prevalent, to date there is little prospective data on patterns of drug use in recreational drug-using women immediately before and during pregnancy. A total of 121 participants from a wide range of backgrounds were recruited to take part in the longitudinal Development and Infancy Study (DAISY) study of prenatal drug use and outcomes. Eighty-six of the women were interviewed prospectively while pregnant and/or soon after their infant was born. Participants reported on use immediately before and during pregnancy and on use over their lifetime. Levels of lifetime drug use of the women recruited were high, with women reporting having used at least four different illegal drugs over their lifetime. Most users of cocaine, 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine (MDMA) and other stimulants stopped using these by the second trimester and levels of use were low. However, in pregnancy, 64% of the sample continued to use alcohol, 46% tobacco and 48% cannabis. While the level of alcohol use reduced substantially, average tobacco and cannabis levels tended to be sustained at pre-pregnancy levels even into the third trimester (50 cigarettes and/or 11 joints per week). In sum, while the use of 'party drugs' and alcohol seems to reduce, levels of tobacco and cannabis use are likely to be sustained throughout pregnancy. The data provide polydrug profiles that can form the basis for the development of more realistic animal models.

Developmental sequelae in preterm infants having a diagnosis of bronchopulmonary dysplasia: analysis using a severity-based classification system.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between the severity-based definition of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), choice of treatment, and neurocognitive outcomes at age 3 and 8 years. DESIGN: This is a secondary analysis of data collected from a prospective, longitudinal sample of 99 children with a history of BPD. SETTING: Children born with BPD admitted to 3 hospitals from February 1, 1989, to November 31, 1991. PARTICIPANTS: Ninety-nine children with BPD were longitudinally assessed at age 3 and 8 years. Three severity groups (mild, moderate, and severe) were formed based on gestational age and need for supplemental oxygen therapy. MAIN EXPOSURES: Supplemental oxygen therapy for 28 days or longer, birth weight less than 1500 g, and radiographic evidence of lung disease. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Neurologic and medical outcomes; type of medical management; and language, achievement, and cognitive functioning were compared among the 3 severity groups. RESULTS: Severity classification of BPD was associated with poorer outcomes. Compared with children with mild or moderate BPD, children with severe BPD performed more poorly on IQ tests (Mental Development Index, 90 vs 76.4; and Psychomotor Development Index, 92.5 vs 73.9) and language measures (total, 95 vs 82) at age 3 years and performance IQ (86 vs 75) and perceptual organization (86 vs 76) at age 8 years. Severity of BPD was not associated with choice of medical management but was related to educational interventions. Children with severe BPD received more special education services (69% vs 44%) than did children with mild BPD. CONCLUSIONS: The severity-based classification clarifies the relationship between BPD and developmental sequelae. Children with severe BPD required more interventions at age 8 years than did children with mild or moderate BPD.