Rates of Prescription Fentanyl Misuse and Correlated Mental Health, Social, and Service Utilization Factors Among Adults in the United States, 2021.
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| Title: | Rates of Prescription Fentanyl Misuse and Correlated Mental Health, Social, and Service Utilization Factors Among Adults in the United States, 2021. |
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| Authors: | Stefanovics, Elina A. (AUTHOR), Tsai, Jack (AUTHOR), Potenza, Marc N. (AUTHOR) |
| Source: | Substance Use & Misuse. 2025, Vol. 60 Issue 13, p1990-1998. 9p. |
| Subjects: | Suicide risk factors, Mental illness risk factors, Competency assessment (Law), Mental depression risk factors, Medical care use, Substance abuse, Mental health services, Medical prescriptions, Education, Insurance, Cluster analysis (Statistics), Suicidal ideation, Psychological distress, Logistic regression analysis, Sex distribution, Interviewing, Statistical sampling, Questionnaires, Health insurance, Classification of mental disorders, Chi-squared test, Multivariate analysis, Descriptive statistics, Odds ratio, Telemedicine, Marital status, Statistics, Economic impact, Medical appointments, Sociodemographic factors, Needs assessment, Data analysis software, Confidence intervals, Treatment delay (Medicine), Fentanyl, COVID-19 pandemic, Poverty, Social stigma |
| Geographic Terms: | United States |
| Abstract: | Background: Misuse of fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid, can lead to severe consequences, including overdose and death. This study examined sociodemographic, mental health, and service utilization factors associated with past-year fentanyl misuse in the United States. Methods: We utilized the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, a nationally representative sample of the non-institutionalized U.S. population, to examine differences among three mutually exclusive groups: those misusing prescription fentanyl (PFMU); those using prescription fentanyl as prescribed (PFU); and those with no fentanyl use (NFU). Multinomial logistic regression models investigated differences related to sociodemographic, mental health, and mental health service utilization. Pain and other substance use were not covaried in analyses. We also examined perceived impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health service utilization among adults who misused fentanyl. Results: Among adults with past-year fentanyl use, 22.4% reported misuse. Individuals with PFMU were more likely to be male, unmarried, and living in poverty and less likely to have a college education or private medical insurance than were PFU and NFU respondents. The PFMU and PFU groups had higher odds of major depression, psychiatric distress, and suicidality than the NFU group. The PFMU and PFU groups were more likely to report use of mental health services, prescribed psychiatric medications, and unmet needs compared to the NFU group. PFMU respondents disproportionately reported more COVID-19-pandemic–related concerns. Conclusion: Links between PFMU and mental concerns, suicidal behavior, and mental health care utilization suggest the need for comprehensive support and integrated treatment approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| Database: | Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection |
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| Abstract: | Background: Misuse of fentanyl, a powerful synthetic opioid, can lead to severe consequences, including overdose and death. This study examined sociodemographic, mental health, and service utilization factors associated with past-year fentanyl misuse in the United States. Methods: We utilized the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, a nationally representative sample of the non-institutionalized U.S. population, to examine differences among three mutually exclusive groups: those misusing prescription fentanyl (PFMU); those using prescription fentanyl as prescribed (PFU); and those with no fentanyl use (NFU). Multinomial logistic regression models investigated differences related to sociodemographic, mental health, and mental health service utilization. Pain and other substance use were not covaried in analyses. We also examined perceived impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health service utilization among adults who misused fentanyl. Results: Among adults with past-year fentanyl use, 22.4% reported misuse. Individuals with PFMU were more likely to be male, unmarried, and living in poverty and less likely to have a college education or private medical insurance than were PFU and NFU respondents. The PFMU and PFU groups had higher odds of major depression, psychiatric distress, and suicidality than the NFU group. The PFMU and PFU groups were more likely to report use of mental health services, prescribed psychiatric medications, and unmet needs compared to the NFU group. PFMU respondents disproportionately reported more COVID-19-pandemic–related concerns. Conclusion: Links between PFMU and mental concerns, suicidal behavior, and mental health care utilization suggest the need for comprehensive support and integrated treatment approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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| ISSN: | 10826084 |
| DOI: | 10.1080/10826084.2025.2529432 |
