Table 2.
Bivariable ordinal regression analyses of factors associated with a self-reported perceived risk of fentanyl overdose among persons who use illicit drugs (n = 1137) and answered questions about their perceived risk of having a fentanyl overdose, Vancouver, British Columbia, December 2016–May 2017a
| Characteristic | No Perceived Risk, No. (%) (n = 398) | Low Perceived Risk, No. (%) (n = 426) | Moderate or High Perceived Risk, No. (%) (n = 313) | Odds Ratio (95% CI) [P Value]b |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age | ||||
| Median (IQR) | 50 (36-56) | 45 (33-53) | 40 (29-50) | — |
| Per year older | — | — | — | 1.03 (1.02-1.04) [<.001] |
| Female | 106 (26.6) | 146 (34.3) | 131 (41.9) | 0.61 (0.48-0.76) [<.001] |
| HIV positivec | 152 (38.2) | 135 (31.7) | 92 (29.4) | 1.36 (1.08-1.71) [.01] |
| White ethnicity/ancestry | 224 (56.3) | 244 (57.3) | 156 (49.8) | 1.19 (0.96-1.47) [.12] |
| ≥Secondary school education | 170 (42.7) | 190 (44.6) | 136 (43.5) | 0.99 (0.79-1.23) [.92] |
| Residence in Downtown Eastsidec,d | 188 (47.2) | 266 (62.4) | 197 (62.9) | 0.61 (0.49-0.75) [<.001] |
| Incarcerationc | 10 (2.5) | 31 (7.3) | 34 (10.9) | 0.38 (0.24-0.58) [<.001] |
| Engagement in addiction treatmentd | 192 (48.2) | 252 (59.2) | 208 (66.5) | 0.58 (0.46-0.72) [<.001] |
| Drug dealingc | 28 (7.0) | 68 (16.0) | 63 (20.1) | 0.45 (0.33-0.62) [<.001] |
| Had a previous overdosec | 15 (3.8) | 58 (13.6) | 119 (38.0) | 0.15 (0.11-0.21) [<.001] |
| Injection drug usec | 142 (35.7) | 298 (70.0) | 265 (84.7) | 0.18 (0.14-0.23) [<.001] |
| Daily drug usec | ||||
| Heroin | 29 (7.3) | 108 (25.4) | 126 (40.3) | 0.25 (0.19-0.33) [<.001] |
| Stimulants, defined as powder or crack cocaine or crystal methamphetamine | 71 (17.8) | 125 (29.3) | 99 (31.6) | 0.59 (0.46-0.75) [<.001] |
| Nonmedical-use prescription opioids | 7 (1.8) | 17 (4.0) | 7 (2.2) | —e |
| Cannabis | 157 (39.4) | 119 (27.9) | 75 (24.0) | 1.74 (1.38-2.21) [<.001] |
| Fentanyl exposurec,f | ||||
| No exposure | 228 (57.3) | 139 (32.6) | 51 (16.3) | 1 [Reference] |
| Aware of exposure | 36 (9.0) | 180 (42.3) | 155 (49.5) | 0.14 (0.11-0.19) [<.001] |
| Unaware of exposure | 39 (9.8) | 38 (8.9) | 38 (12.1) | 0.32 (0.21-0.49) [<.001] |
| Absence of fentanyl risk knowledgec | 27 (6.8) | 20 (4.7) | 13 (4.2) | 1.50 (0.92-2.46) [.10] |
Abbreviations: —, does not apply; IQR, interquartile range.
aData sources: Vancouver Injection Drug Users Study, AIDS Care Cohort to Evaluate Exposure to Survival Services, At-Risk Youth Study.12-14 Of 1166 study participants, 1095 had fentanyl risk knowledge, defined as being able to identify an overdose risk associated with exposure to fentanyl (yes vs no); 1137 participants answered questions about their perceived risk of having a fentanyl overdose. The reference group for the outcome is self-reported high or moderate perceived risk of fentanyl overdose.
bP < .05 was considered significant.
cBehaviors and events in the past 6 months (coded as yes or no).
dThis area of Vancouver is known to be the epicenter of drug use in British Columbia.15
eBivariable logistic regression analysis was not performed because of small counts.
fNo exposure defined as testing negative for fentanyl in a urine drug screen and self-reporting no possible exposure to fentanyl; unaware of exposure defined as testing positive for fentanyl in a urine drug screen and self-reporting no possible exposure to fentanyl; and aware of exposure defined as self-reporting having used fentanyl or any drugs they believe were contaminated with fentanyl, regardless of urine drug screen results.