Seasonal, weekly and other cyclical patterns in deaths due to drug poisoning in England and Wales

Letter Psychiatry

Intentional Drug Overdose Deaths in the United States

Beth Han et al.

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRY (2022)

Article Public, Environmental & Occupational Health

Time-Series Analysis of Fentanyl Concentration in the Unregulated Opioid Drug Supply in a Canadian Setting

Samuel Tobias et al.

Summary: This study evaluates the trends in fentanyl concentration in illicit opioids and its relationship with the overdose epidemic. The findings show a cyclical pattern in fentanyl concentration over time, with a decrease in absolute variance. Future research should investigate the relationship between fentanyl concentration and overdose, and identify targeted harm-reduction interventions.

AMERICAN JOURNAL OF EPIDEMIOLOGY (2022)

Add to Collection

Article Substance Abuse

Changes in the unregulated opioid drug supply during income assistance payment weeks in Vancouver, Canada: An exploratory analysis

Melissa Beaulac et al.

Summary: This study found that income assistance payment weeks were associated with an increase in fentanyl and benzodiazepines in the unregulated opioid drug supply, which may contribute to the rise in illicit drug overdoses during this time.

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DRUG POLICY (2022)

Add to Collection

Article Medicine, General & Internal

Fatal opioid overdoses during and shortly after hospital admissions in England: A case-crossover study

Dan Lewer et al.

Summary: The risk of opioid-related death increases in the 14 days after hospital discharge, with a significantly higher risk in the first two days post-discharge. Improving linkage with community drug treatment and harm reduction services could help mitigate this risk.

PLOS MEDICINE (2021)

Add to Collection

Article Public, Environmental & Occupational Health

Effect of alternative income assistance schedules on drug use and drug-related harm: a randomised controlled trial

Lindsey Richardson et al.

Summary: A structural intervention varying income assistance payment timing and frequency can mitigate escalations in drug use, but may lead to increased harm related to exposure to violence. Additional research is needed to clarify potential unintended consequences and identify measures to address these harms.

LANCET PUBLIC HEALTH (2021)

Add to Collection

Article Medicine, General & Internal