Interventions to address stimulant and opioid use that consider race and gender may prove more effective at preventing overdose deaths than current methods, according to a Penn State-led team of researchers who studied how drug treatment admissions and overdose deaths differed among race and gender. The researchers found that minority communities bore the brunt of the crisis in both urban and rural areas.
They reported their findings in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence.
The United States recorded more than 580,000 opioid and stimulant-related overdose deaths in the last 20 years, with 100,000 deaths in 2020 alone. Drug overdose deaths in the U.S. have continued to climb despite rising treatment admissions, with Black men and American Indian/Native Alaskan men and women hit the hardest by the overdose crisis, according to Penn State’s Abenaa Jones, the Ann Atherton Early Career Professor in Health and Human Development and assistant professor of human development and family studies, who was lead author on the paper.
“Substance use and its ramifications do more than impact the individual -; they impact society as a whole,” said Jones, who cited social costs such as higher unemployment rates and strains on the foster care and criminal justice systems, to name a few. “During the COVID-19 pandemic, overdose rates for Black individuals overtook those of whites for the first time. We wanted to delve into the nuances within those overdose deaths and also look at treatment admissions to gauge how treatment for substance use disorders looks among race, ethnicity and gender.”
A recent study has shed light on the importance of race and gender-specific interventions in preventing overdose deaths, emphasizing the need for tailored approaches to address the unique challenges faced by different populations. Researchers have discovered that considering race and gender-specific factors can significantly enhance the effectiveness of overdose prevention strategies.
The study found that individuals from marginalized communities, including racial and ethnic minorities, face distinct risks and barriers when it comes to addiction and overdose. Factors such as social determinants of health, cultural influences, and systemic disparities can impact access to treatment, support networks, and education about substance abuse. By acknowledging and addressing these disparities, healthcare providers can design interventions that are more responsive and tailored to the specific needs of these communities.
Adopting race and gender-specific interventions can help bridge the gaps in addiction treatment and prevention, ultimately saving lives. By recognizing and addressing the unique challenges faced by different populations, such as providing culturally sensitive programs and targeted outreach efforts, healthcare professionals can make a significant impact in reducing overdose deaths.
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