Self-reported use of novel psychoactive substances in a US nationally representative survey: Prevalence, correlates, and a call for new survey methods to prevent underreporting

Background: In recent years, there has been an increase in emergence and use of novel psychoactive substances (NPS) in the US and worldwide. However, there is little published epidemiological survey data estimating the prevalence of use in the US. Method: Data on self-reported NPS use came from the National Survey of Drug Use and Health (2009–2013), a national representative sample of non-institutionalized individuals in the US. Subjects were asked to provide names of (non-traditional) drugs they used that they were not specifically asked about. We examined lifetime prevalence and sociodemographic correlates of self-reported use of new and uncommon synthetic drugs (NPS) among subjects ages 12–34-years-old. Results: 1.2% of subjects self-reported any use of the 57 NPS we examined. Use of psychedelic tryptamines (primarily DMT) was most common, followed by psychedelic phenethylamines (e.g., 2C series) and synthetic cannabinoids. Prevalence of self-reported use of NPS increased from 2009 to 2013 and use was most common among males, whites, older subjects, those of lower income, and among those residing in cities. Lifetime use of various other illicit drugs (e.g., LSD, cocaine, ecstasy/MDMA) was highly prevalent among NPS users. Conclusion: This the first study reporting on use of a variety of NPS in a nationally representative US sample; however, use appears to be underreported as other national data suggest higher rates of NPS (e.g., synthetic cannabinoid) use. Developing more adaptable survey tools and systematically assessing NPS use would allow researchers to ask about hundreds of NPS and improve reporting as new drugs continue to rapidly emerge

Identifying Injection Drug Users at Risk of Nonfatal Overdose

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/75145/1/j.1553-2712.2007.tb01846.x.pd

Urbanicity, urbanization, and the urban environment

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/55740/1/ompad_urbanization_2007.pd

Distribution of influenza vaccine to high-risk groups

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/41224/1/ompad_distribution of influenza vaccine to high risk groups_2006.pd

Correlates of illicit methadone use in New York City: A cross-sectional study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Despite growing concern about illicit methadone use in the US and other countries, there is little data about the prevalence and correlates of methadone use in large urban areas. We assessed the prevalence and examined correlates of lifetime and recent illicit methadone use in New York City (NYC).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>1,415 heroin, crack, and cocaine users aged 15–40 years were recruited in NYC between 2000 and 2004 to complete interviewer-administered questionnaires.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In multivariable logistic regression, non-injection drug users who used illicit methadone were more likely to be heroin dependent, less than daily methamphetamine users and to have a heroin using sex partner in the last two months. Injection drug users who used illicit methadone were more likely to use heroin daily, share injection paraphernalia and less likely to have been in a detoxification program and to have not used marijuana in the last six months.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The results overall suggest that illicit (or street) methadone use is likely not a primary drug of choice, but is instead more common in concert with other illicit drug use.</p

Defining neighborhood boundaries for urban health research

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/51517/1/weiss_defining neighborhood boundaries_2007.pd

Social determinants of health of urban populations: methodologic considerations

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/55424/1/ompad_social determinants of the health of urban_2007.pd

Ecstasy use and its association with sexual behaviors among drug users in new york city

ABSTRACT: In the past two decades, recreational use of ecstasy has become a growing concern in the United States, although most studies assessing ecstasy use have focused on white, middle-class adolescents who use ecstasy during raves and in clubs. We assessed the prevalence of recent ecstasy use among predominantly minority heroin, cocaine, and crack users in New York City and the association between ecstasy and sexual risk above and beyond that of the other drugs. Between 2002 and 2004, injection and non-injection heroin, crack and cocaine users (N = 534) completed a risk behavior questionnaire that included items on ecstasy use. Logistic regression was used to investigate the relation between current ecstasy use and sexual behaviors. Of 534 illicit drug users, 69.7% were aged 25 years or older, 65.2% were Hispanic, 27.9% Black and 77.4% male; 36.7% were injectors. 17.2% of respondents reported recent (last six months) ecstasy use. In a multivariable logistic regression model, current ecstasy use was associated both with initiating sex before age 14 (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.51) and having two or more partners in the past two months (AOR = 1.86) after adjusting for age at study entry, current cocaine and marijuana use and being an injection drug user. This study suggests that ecstasy use may be more prevalent among urban drug users. Ecstasy use in urban settings, beyond clubs and raves, should continue to be monitored.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/40285/2/Novoa_Ecstasy Use and Its Association With Sexual_2005.pd

The Prevalence and Types of Gambling Among Undocumented Mexican Immigrants in New York City

http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/61290/1/momper sl, nandi v, ompad dc, delva j, galea s, prevalence and types of gambling among undocumented mexican immigrants in nyc.pd