12.7 Percent of Adults Using Fentanyl or Heroin Report Ever Using Xylazine

Follow Drugslib on

Medically reviewed by Drugs.com.

By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter

MONDAY, July 8, 2024 -- A considerable proportion of adults reporting illegally manufactured fentanyl (IMF) or heroin use also use xylazine, according to research published in the July 4 issue of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Xinyi Jiang, Ph.D., from the CDC in Atlanta, and colleagues identified a convenience sample of U.S. adults aged 18 years and older from those evaluated for substance use treatment during July 2022 to September 2023. Data were obtained from the Addiction Severity Index-Multimedia Version clinical assessment tool.

The researchers found that 14.6 percent of the 43,947 adults reported IMF or heroin as their primary lifetime substance-use problem; 12.2 percent reported recent IMF or heroin use. Overall, 12.7 percent of those reporting IMF or heroin as their primary lifetime substance-use problem reported ever-use of xylazine. Recent xylazine use was reported by 8.3 percent of adults reporting recent IMF or heroin use. A median of two past nonfatal overdoses from any drug was reported among adults reporting IMF or heroin use recently or as their primary lifetime substance-use problem and who reported xylazine use, compared with a median of one overdose among those not reporting xylazine use. Higher percentages of individuals who reported xylazine use also had other recent substance use and polysubstance use.

"Broader interventions are needed to reduce stigma directed toward persons who use drugs and increase awareness of their treatment and service needs so that services can be accessed without judgment," the authors write.

Abstract/Full Text

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

Source: HealthDay

Posted : 2024-07-09 01:15

Read more

Disclaimer

Every effort has been made to ensure that the information provided by Drugslib.com is accurate, up-to-date, and complete, but no guarantee is made to that effect. Drug information contained herein may be time sensitive. Drugslib.com information has been compiled for use by healthcare practitioners and consumers in the United States and therefore Drugslib.com does not warrant that uses outside of the United States are appropriate, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Drugslib.com's drug information does not endorse drugs, diagnose patients or recommend therapy. Drugslib.com's drug information is an informational resource designed to assist licensed healthcare practitioners in caring for their patients and/or to serve consumers viewing this service as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, the expertise, skill, knowledge and judgment of healthcare practitioners.

The absence of a warning for a given drug or drug combination in no way should be construed to indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective or appropriate for any given patient. Drugslib.com does not assume any responsibility for any aspect of healthcare administered with the aid of information Drugslib.com provides. The information contained herein is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. If you have questions about the drugs you are taking, check with your doctor, nurse or pharmacist.

Popular Keywords