Research examines opioid overdose response and misuse patterns in the United States

Recent research highlights various aspects of the opioid crisis and emergency response in the United States. A study of nonfatal opioid-related overdoses in a large metropolitan area found that 90.9% of individuals were transported to a hospital, while 0.7% were placed in police custody and 5.5% were not transferred.

The metropolitan study noted that Black and Hispanic patients were approximately 43% to 44% more likely to be transported to a hospital compared to White patients. Additionally, each one-year increase in age was associated with a 2% increase in the odds of hospital transportation.

In Kentucky, the REFOCUS study is investigating factors associated with opioid misuse among African Americans. This mixed-methods research aims to understand non-medical prescription opioid use patterns and lived experiences to better inform substance use interventions and treatment modalities for this population.