Initial evidence for a culturally adapted opioid overdose harm reduction intervention
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 21605046 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Brittany D Miller-Roenigk (0000-0003-2001-7187, University of Kentucky, corresponding author), Paris B Wheeler (0000-0003-3551-5197, University of Cincinnati) |
| Year | 2026 |
| Pages | 1-11 |
| Publication date | 2026-05-17 |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Drugs Education Prevention and Policy (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0968-7637 • E-ISSN: 1465-3370 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/09687637.2026.2673074 |
| OpenAlex | W7161484466 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 36 |
Background Rates of opioid overdose continues to rise among Black adults, despite decreases in overdose among other racial and ethnic groups in the U.S. Opioid overdose among Black populations can be attributed to both intentional and unintentional opioid analogues (e.g., fentanyl) use and contamination of other drugs, such as stimulants. Opioid overdose among Black adults is seen at disproportional rates in the Midwest, such as in Kentucky and Ohio. Despite these risks, research examining harm reduction preventions and interventions among Black adults who report nonmedical use of opioids and increasingly dangerous stimulants has been vastly understudied.Method The current study adapts and tests a one-time, educational harm reduction intervention—which includes naloxone and fentanyl test strip (FTS) distribution—that is community-engaged and culturally informed. The intervention was pilot tested (clinical trial NCT06609278) among a sample of n = 57 Black adults in Louisville, KY and Cincinnati, OH. Eligible participants included men and women aged 18-65, reporting nonmedical opioid and/or stimulant use in the past six months.Results Results indicate preliminary evidence of efficacy of the intervention and the opioid overdose harm reduction strategies presented.Conclusions Initial findings of this study have important implications for harm reduction strategies to prevent and reverse opioid-related overdoses among Black adults
Drug overdose · Harm · Harm reduction · Opioid · Opioid abuse · Opioid overdose · HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk · Opioid Use Disorder Treatment · Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
Long-Term Adherence to Health Behavior Change
Estimating the sample size for a pilot randomised trial to minimise the overall trial sample size for the external pilot and main trial for a continuous outcome variable
Cultural Adaptation of Overdose Education Programs
Awareness of and Beliefs About Naloxone Among Adults
Subcultural evolution and illicit drug use
Xylazine in the drug supply
Use of rapid fentanyl test strips among young adults who use drugs
Drug Use and Conflict in Inner-City African-Anterican Relationships in the 2000s
Increased Presence of Fentanyl in Cocaine-Involved Fatal Overdoses
Racial Disparities in Overdose Prevention among People Who Inject Drugs
Overdose from Unintentional Fentanyl Use when Intending to Use a Non-opioid Substance
Evaluation of the Overdose Education and Naloxone Distribution Program of the Baltimore Student Harm Reduction Coalition
Cultural adaptations of behavioral health interventions
| Highly cited | No |
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