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Abstract Background Amidst a national surge in overdose deaths among racial and ethnic minoritized people and people who use stimulants (cocaine or methamphetamines), our objective was to understand how these groups are adapting to a rapidly changing illicit drug supply. Methods We conducted semi-structured interviews with 64 people who use drugs and who self-identified as Black, Hispanic, Multiracial, or other Non-White race in three states (Michigan, New Jersey, and Wisconsin). Transcribed interviews were coded thematically. Results Most respondents used stimulants alone or in combination with opioids. Respondents perceived that the drug supply had become more unpredictable and dangerous but differed in their personal perception of risk and their adaptations. For example, respondents had very mixed perceptions of their own risk of being harmed by fentanyl, and differing opinions about whether fentanyl test strips would be useful. Xylazine, a novel adulterant in the opioid drug supply that has received public health and media attention, was not well known within the sample. Conclusion Our study highlights the challenges experienced by minoritized people who use drugs in responding to a changing drug supply, underscoring the limits of public health approaches focused solely on individual behavioral change.

Abstract Objective There is a rising effort for hospital emergency departments (EDs) to offer and expand substance use disorder (SUD) services. This state-wide evaluation studies SUD services offered along the continuum of implementation across Kentucky’s EDs to inform future state efforts to build ED bridge programs. Methods We conducted a mixed-methods study using an online survey of all Kentucky Emergency Department Directors between January and May of 2023. We created a hospital-level dataset which we used to summarize quantitative questions and thematically analyze open-ended responses. Results Our sample included 85 unique respondents (89% of all eligible Kentucky hospitals). Nine (11%) had active bridge programs to initiate opioid use disorder patients on buprenorphine. Respondents reported that the most challenging SUD-related services for EDs to implement were buprenorphine induction for opioid use disorder treatment (n = 36, 42%), referrals to community-based providers (n = 34, 40%), and providing social work services (n = 25, 29%). Respondents noted that the implementation and improvement of screening protocols were needed to better identify patients with SUD, expressed concerns about care continuity, and explicitly conveyed the need and desire for additional supports to provide SUD care. Conclusions The landscape of Kentucky’s ED SUD supports shows several hospitals that offer services along the continuum of SUD care, and highlights the importance of technical assistance and financial resources to ensure the continuum is broadly available. Kentucky’s experience speaks to broader national challenges in supporting SUD in EDs – specifically the need for financial resources, buy-in and education, and creating referral relationships to ensure care continuity.

Introduction: In 2020, Michigan implemented its first Naloxone Leave-Behind Program for Emergency Medical Service (EMS) field providers. Under the program, EMS field providers leave naloxone kits to individuals aged 15 or older they encounter in the field who have overdosed, who indicate they have a substance use disorder, or exhibit signs of opioid use and/or to bystanders, friends, or family that are present at the encounter. Methods: Survey of EMS field providers and administrators to assess perspectives on the Michigan NLB program. Comparisons of perspectives between field providers and administrators working in EMS agencies operating in medical control authorities (MCAs) participating in the NLB program (i.e., participating agencies) with field providers and administrators working for EMS agencies serving non-participating MCAs. Results: Most EMS field providers and administrators supported the Michigan NLB program. However, some were concerned about the unintended consequences of leaving behind naloxone, including the potential for recipients to use more drugs or be less likely to seek treatment. Perspectives of NLB program effectiveness were similar between EMS administrators and field providers. Participating administrators’ top-cited barrier to implementation was convincing field providers to leave behind naloxone, while non-participating administrators were concerned with stocking naloxone kits. Conclusions: Additional engagement and training to address concerns by EMS field providers and administrators about the benefits of the NLB program are needed to expand program participation intensity. Streamlining naloxone procurement and increasing messaging about free access to naloxone for participating in the program may help increase adoption.

INTRODUCTION: The World Health Organization estimates that up to half of vaccines are wasted, however only a minority of mHealth programs in Africa have been directed at vaccine supply chain optimisation. We piloted a novel mHealth solution dependent only on SMS technology that allowed workers in rural health centres in Zambia to report vaccine stock levels directly to an online platform. Small airtime incentives were offered to encourage users to engage with the system, as well as weekly reminder messages asking for stock updates. METHODS: the primary outcome measured was the percentage-of-doses-tracked, calculated over the study period. Each vaccine box was randomly allocated to offer either a standard or double airtime incentive and either weekly or daily reminders, in a 2 x 2 design; ANOVA was used to calculate if any of these factors affected time-to-reply. RESULTS: over the study period, the total percentage-of-doses-tracked was 39.9%. Within the subset of users who sent at least one message to the platform, the percentage-of-doses-tracked was 93.8%. There was no significant difference in average time-to-reply between the standard airtime incentive and double airtime incentive groups, nor was there a significant difference between the standard reminder and daily follow-up reminder groups. CONCLUSION: this pilot study found that in an active subgroup of health workers, an incentivised mHealth solution was able to collect tracking data for 93.8% of doses. More research is needed to identify methods to encourage healthcare workers to engage in timely stock reporting practices.