Sociology and Anthropology Department, University of Nebraska Omaha, Arts and Sciences Hall 383N, 6001 Dodge Street, Omaha, NE, 68182, USA.
Rural Drug Addiction Research Center, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Olfdather Hall - 4th Floor, 660 N 12th Street, Lincoln, NE, 68588, USA.
Harm Reduct J. 2022 Mar 4;19(1):22. doi: 10.1186/s12954-022-00606-8.
Opioid-related overdose deaths have been increasing in the United States (U.S.) in the last twenty years, creating a public health challenge. Take-home naloxone is an effective strategy for preventing opioid-related overdose death, but its widespread use is particularly challenging in smaller cities, towns, and rural areas where it may be stigmatized and/or poorly understood.
We analyzed data on knowledge and beliefs about drug use and naloxone among the general public in Nebraska, a largely rural state in the Great Plains region of the U.S., drawing on the 2020 Nebraska Annual Social Indicators Survey.
Respondents reported negative beliefs about people who use drugs (PWUD) and little knowledge of naloxone. Over half reported that members of their community view PWUD as blameworthy, untrustworthy, and dangerous. Approximately 31% reported being unaware of naloxone. Only 15% reported knowing where to obtain naloxone and less than a quarter reported knowing how to use it. Knowing where to obtain naloxone is associated with access to opioids and knowing someone who has recently overdosed, but having ever used opioids or being close to someone who uses opioids is not associated with naloxone knowledge. Finally, almost a quarter of respondents endorsed the belief that people who use opioids will use more if they have access to naloxone.
Our findings highlight stigmatizing beliefs about PWUD and underscore the need for further education on naloxone as an effective strategy to reduce opioid-related overdose death. We highlight the implications of these findings for public education efforts tailored to non-urban communities.
在过去的二十年中，美国（美国）阿片类药物相关的过量死亡人数一直在增加，这构成了一个公共卫生挑战。纳洛酮可带回家是预防阿片类药物相关过量死亡的有效策略，但在较小的城市、城镇和农村地区，由于其可能被污名化和/或理解不足，因此广泛使用尤其具有挑战性。
我们分析了美国大平原地区内布拉斯加州普通公众对吸毒和纳洛酮的知识和信念的数据，这些数据来自 2020 年内布拉斯加州年度社会指标调查。
受访者报告了对吸毒者（PWUD）的负面看法和对纳洛酮的了解甚少。超过一半的人报告说，他们社区的成员认为 PWUD 是有过错的、不可信的和危险的。大约 31%的人报告说不知道纳洛酮。只有 15%的人报告知道在哪里可以获得纳洛酮，不到四分之一的人报告知道如何使用它。知道在哪里可以获得纳洛酮与获得阿片类药物的途径和知道最近有人过量用药有关，但曾经使用过阿片类药物或与使用阿片类药物的人关系密切与纳洛酮知识无关。最后，近四分之一的受访者认为，如果 PWUD 可以获得纳洛酮，他们会使用更多的阿片类药物。
我们的研究结果突出了对 PWUD 的污名化看法，并强调了进一步教育纳洛酮作为减少阿片类药物相关过量死亡的有效策略的必要性。我们强调了这些发现对针对非城市社区的公共教育工作的影响。
