A systematic review of vaccine uptake intervention studies has shown a lack of economic analysis to support decision making. The review, led by Dr Yuri Hamashima, Senior Research Associate in Health [...

Discovery Day is the flagship event of the Futures Festival of Discovery. It is a free event aimed at showing children and young people what researchers at GW4 universities, including […]

A ground-breaking group in Bristol is helping stroke survivors prepare for returning to work. Sirona‘s Integrated Community Stroke Service piloted eight weekly group sessions as part of its rehabilita...

A new study is investigating whether FAST MRI, a new type of scan, can help detect small but aggressive breast cancers earlier. Now open to patients, the

Background Drug-related deaths have substantially increased over the past decade in the UK, particularly in Scotland. Co-use of opioids and benzodiazepines (prescribed and/or illicit) is contributing to rising mortality. This study identified motivations in people’s co-use with the aim of informing prescribing and harm reduction interventions to address drug-related deaths. Methods We interviewed 48 people who co-use opioids and benzodiazepines and/or z-drugs (zopiclone and zolpidem) in Glasgow (n = 28), Teesside (n = 10) and Bristol (n = 10). Most participants self-identified as male (n = 37, 77%), white (n = 45, 94%) and had a mean age of 43 years (range: 25–61 years). The majority reported at least one overdose experience, and poor mental health including trauma. Interviews were semi-structured, conducted by an academic and/or peer researcher, and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results Participants’ motivations for co-using mapped onto two interlinked meta-themes: (1) Functional motivations included co-using to augment drug effects, self-medicate or help to generate income. (2) Experiential motivations described participants’ desires to achieve a ‘buzz’ (feeling energised), ‘glow’ (feeling comforted), ‘oblivion’ (escaping trauma and adversity), and ‘gouching’ (physical and mental sensations of ebbing in and out of glow and oblivion). Functional and experiential motivations were dynamic, interrelated and often co-occurred. Conclusions The importance of assessing motivations to co-use should be routinely recognised as part of harm reduction and medication assisted treatments to reduce mortality risk.

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