Center for Applied Research on Substance Use and Health Disparities, Nova Southeastern University, Miami, Florida, USA.
Department of Behavioral Science, College of Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.
Subst Use Misuse. 2020;55(14):2364-2370. doi: 10.1080/10826084.2020.1817082. Epub 2020 Sep 11.
Gabapentin is misused to potentiate the euphoric effects of opioids, self-treat physical pain, and moderate opioid withdrawal symptoms. Because examinations of gabapentin misuse among people who inject drugs (PWID) are scant, the aim of this study is to identify factors associated with gabapentin misuse among this population. Data are drawn from a study examining the uptake of syringe service programs (SSPs) in Appalachian Kentucky. The sample includes 324 PWID who were age 18 and over and reported past month drug injection. Logistic regression models were constructed to examine recent (past 90 days) gabapentin misuse. : Participants are female (50.0%); Hispanic (2.2%), Black (1.5%), white (90.7%), and other race/ethnicity (4.6%). Mean age is 37. Participants reporting gabapentin misuse had higher odds of reporting (mis)use of marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, prescription opioids, benzodiazepines, prescription stimulants, fentanyl, and buprenorphine ( < .042); severe substance use disorder ( < .000); and recent physical pain ( < .003). In multivariable models, findings related to misuse of prescription opioids and buprenorphine; severe substance use disorder; and recent physical pain or discomfort, remained significant ( < .042). This is one of the first studies to examine gabapentin misuse among PWID. It is possible that individuals reporting recent gabapentin misuse are attempting to self-treat physical pain when healthcare is limited. Gabapentin may also be misused to achieve desired central nervous system effects and to potentiate opioid highs. Syringe service programs can educate PWID about the potential dangers of polydrug use involving gabapentin and to connect PWID with needed healthcare services.
加巴喷丁被滥用于增强阿片类药物的欣快感、自我治疗身体疼痛和缓解阿片类药物戒断症状。由于对使用注射药物者（PWID）滥用加巴喷丁的研究很少，本研究旨在确定与该人群中加巴喷丁滥用相关的因素。数据来自一项研究，该研究考察了在阿巴拉契亚肯塔基州推广注射器服务项目（SSP）的情况。样本包括 324 名年龄在 18 岁及以上、报告过去一个月有药物注射的 PWID。使用逻辑回归模型来检查最近（过去 90 天）滥用加巴喷丁的情况。参与者中女性占 50.0%；西班牙裔占 2.2%，黑人占 1.5%，白人占 90.7%，其他种族/族裔占 4.6%。平均年龄为 37 岁。报告滥用加巴喷丁的参与者报告大麻、可卡因、冰毒、处方阿片类药物、苯二氮䓬类药物、处方兴奋剂、芬太尼和丁丙诺啡（<0.042）；严重物质使用障碍（<0.000）；以及最近的身体疼痛（<0.003）的可能性更高。在多变量模型中，与滥用处方阿片类药物和丁丙诺啡；严重物质使用障碍；以及最近的身体疼痛或不适相关的发现仍然具有统计学意义（<0.042）。这是最早研究 PWID 中加巴喷丁滥用情况的研究之一。当医疗保健有限时，报告最近滥用加巴喷丁的人可能试图自我治疗身体疼痛。加巴喷丁也可能被滥用于实现所需的中枢神经系统效应，并增强阿片类药物的欣快感。注射器服务项目可以教育 PWID 关于涉及加巴喷丁的多药滥用的潜在危险，并将 PWID 与所需的医疗保健服务联系起来。
