Cross Faded – The Relationship Between Opioid Use History and Polysubstance Use Risk Perceptions

• In Event: Poster Session

Abstract

Objective: To explore if there is a relationship between opioid use history and known and unknown simultaneous polysubstance use risk perceptions.

Data and Methods: Data were obtained from the 2021 CARA Orange County Residents Survey conducted by the UCF Institute for Social and Behavioral Science Research. Seven hundred thirty-five participants aged 18 years and older were asked about their substance use and perceptions of risk for single and polysubstance use.

Results: A bivariate and logistic regression analysis were run to analyze the relationship between demographics, opioid use history, and risk perceptions of single and polysubstance use. When evaluating the risk associated with taking more than one drug simultaneously, almost 60% of those who did not have a history of opioid use reported that there was a great risk associated, compared to only 32% of those who had a history of opioid use. This trend was also demonstrated when analyzing the risk associated with laced drugs.

Implications: Mortality reports show that most overdose deaths include more than one substance. This research addresses the gap in the literature referring to polysubstance use and demonstrates that there is a need to better educate individuals, especially opioid users, on the risk of polysubstance use.

Author

• Laura Lynn Lightfoot, University of Missouri - St. Louis