Decrease in injection and rise in smoking and snorting of heroin and synthetic opioids, 2000-2021.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Injecting, smoking, and snorting heroin/synthetic opioids is each associated with unique health risks. It is unclear how route of administration (ROA) preferences have shifted during the opioid epidemic.

Methods

Using 2000-2021 admissions data from SAMHSA TEDS-A, we analyzed trends in heroin/synthetic opioid ROA preferences and factors associated with these preferences.

Results

7,881,318 heroin/synthetic opioid admissions reported injection, smoking, or snorting preference. Nationally, injection peaked in 2014 (69.9 %) and nadired in 2021(52.2 %), snorting nadired in 2014 (24.9 %) and peaked in 2021 (36.4 %), and smoking rose steadily from 2.5 % in 2005 to a peak of 11.4 % in 2021. From 2000-2021, the number of states with ≥10 % smoking rates grew from 2 to

SUBMITTER: Karandinos G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11684856 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature