How Does Addiction Impact Low-Income Americans?

Studies have shown that substance abuse is more common among low-income individuals. In the United States, an individual is considered low-income when he/she cannot cover their basic needs or struggles. Data show that, the rate of substance use is twice as high for unemployed individuals when compared to employed individuals. Factors such as not being able to afford a home, food, or necessities can be overwhelming, leading people to seek comfort in drugs or alcohol as temporary relief. Low-income adults often lack social support, which is crucial to the recovery process. An addiction, especially one involving substance abuse, can cost half of an individual's income at the poverty level. A person with substance use disorder may neglect bills to cover the cost of drugs or alcohol, resulting in missed payments and overwhelming debt, compounding the situation.

For low-income Americans, substance abuse can have a snowball effect, and treatment may not be an option due to cost. State and local government programs can provide public assistance to low-income Americans with substance abuse. Indiana 211 is a free and confidential service that helps connect Hoosiers to different resources related to health care, mental health, addiction, housing, and other services. These services are available 24/7, you can contact them by dialing 211 (866-211-9966). The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration national helpline is open 24/7 to assist people in finding treatment even if they are not insured. 

DEA Issues Alert on Counterfeit Pills Containing Fentanyl

On Sept. 27, the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) issued for the first time in six years a public safety alert. The notification was about the increased lethality and availability of fentanyl and methamphetamine in counterfeit prescription pills. About 9.5 million pills were seized this year, more than the two previous years combined. DEA Administrator Anne Milgram stated that two out of five counterfeit pills contain the lethal dose of fentanyl, 2 milligrams.

These pills, which are meant to resemble approved pharmaceutical medications, are sold on social media and e-commerce platforms in every state. These illegal drugs can look like prescription medications, such as Xanax, Vicodin, Percocet or Oxycontin. 

The DEA clarifies that prescriptions by a licensed pharmacist are safe, and individuals should continue taking them as instructed by the medical professional.  

U-M lab receives a $13.2 million NIDA grant to optimize interventions for substance abuse disorders

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) awarded a University of Michigan lab $13.2 million grant to develop effective interventions for drug abuse, HIV, and chronic conditions. The research focuses on developing methods to accelerate the inclusion and implementation of evidence-based services to communities with substance use disorders. Their goal is to integrate human and digital care in prevention and treatment services and optimize smart devices to deliver real-time interventions to an individual's daily life. 

The center's Dissemination and Training Core (DTC) will offer training activities and develop user-friendly software resources to allow scientists to design their trials and perform their data analyses to optimize the opportunity for novel research methods.

Xylazine Spreads Across the USA

More recently, the substance abuse crisis in the United States has seen increased overdose deaths due to polysubstance use and synthetic compounds. Recently the use of xylazine, an animal tranquilizer, has been detected in higher rates in illicitly-manufactured-fentanyl. Initially, this drug was seen as an additive in unregulated drugs in Puerto Rico. In 2019, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) detected xylazine in 25 of 38 states recently examined for substance overdose deaths. Of the cases examined, in 64.3%, xylazine was determined as the cause of overdose death, and for other 925 cases, it was detected but not noted as a contributor to overdose death. 

In a study including data from all four U.S. regions, xylazine was involved in 6.7% of overdose deaths, an increase from 0.36% in 2015. Philadelphia, the area with the highest prevalence of xylazine use, showed 25.8% of overdose deaths included the presence of xylazine. Maryland and Connecticut followed with 19.3% and 10.2% of overdose deaths involving xylazine. 

The CDC states that cases of xylazine-involved overdoses may be higher due to the potentially missed detection of the drug. 

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UPCOMING EVENTS

Addiction Treatment and the Latinx Community

2:30 p.m. -3:30 p.m. EDT, Wednesday Oct. 13

Clinicians from the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation will host this podcast to educate participants on how culturally responsive treatments can help a patient on the road to recovery. Speakers will discuss use of evidence-based treatment modalities in culturally responsive ways to best meet the needs of the Latinx community. Other objectives include discussing the Twelve Steps principles, describing the impact of substance abuse within the Latinx community, and addressing marijuana use disorder among Latinx youth.

To register for this event, click here.

https://opioidcobre.org/contact/Opioids & Overdose 2021 Hackathon

8 a.m. – 8 p.m. EDT, Oct. 15-17

Center of Biomedical Research Excellence (COBRE) on Opioids and Overdose will be holding a virtual and in-person free hackathon. A hackathon is an event where people come together to solve problems creatively; technology does not have to be involved. The three ideas that will be addressed are community strategy for overdose, healthcare solutions to overdose, and policy solutions. You can join the activity with your own team or contact COBRE to help you find a team. Each team will have mentors such as researchers, clinicians, and/or medical investigators who can assist your group in formulating and pitching your idea. If your idea is selected as one of the top three, each team member will receive $400, and up to $40,000 is available for additional funding. Please note that there must be at least one team member resident of Rhode Island to receive any additional funding.

This event will also include speakers who will share knowledge related to overdose in healthcare and community and policy innovations. 

To register for this event, click here.

FASD 101: Prenatal Alcohol Exposure + Positive Interventions 

9 a.m. – 4 p.m. EDT, Saturday Oct. 16

The Indiana National Organization on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (NOFAS) will host a webinar to explore the effects of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), prenatal alcohol effects, and interventions. Prenatal alcohol exposure can result in a combination of physical and functional congenital disabilities. NOFAS focuses on prenatal alcohol exposure prevention, education, and support to families throughout Indiana. 

This $10, six-hour interactive training can provide six Continuing Education Credits for addiction counselors, social workers, mental health counselors, among others.  

To register for this event, click here.

Medications for Opioid Use Disorder, a Health Approach to Treatment

10 a.m. – 1 p.m. EDT, Oct. 19

Due to the increase in overdose death during the pandemic, practitioners are encouraged to increase access to medications for opioid use disorders. Explaining effective intervention to communities in need has been identified as a significant challenge of behavioral health. This free webinar by the Addiction Technology Transfer Center Network (ATTC) will discuss the impact of chronic opioid use, cognitive impairment, compulsivity factors, and the myths associated with medications used to treat OUD and alcohol use disorder.

To register for this event, click here.