Publications by authors named "Karen C Flynn"

Article Synopsis
  • Geostatistical data on drug overdose mortality is often aggregated at larger geographic levels, which can mask significant disparities in urban areas.
  • This study focused on Cuyahoga County, Ohio, analyzing drug-related mortality rates at the finer census tract level, revealing that individuals in low-opportunity areas are four times more likely to experience drug-related deaths compared to those in high-opportunity areas.
  • The research emphasizes the importance of detailed geographic analysis to uncover variations in drug mortality risk, suggesting that targeting specific communities can enhance public health interventions.
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Objectives: Emergency departments (EDs) could play an important role in the COVID-19 pandemic response by reaching patients who would otherwise not seek vaccination in the community. Prior to expanding COVID-19 vaccination to the acute care setting, we assessed ED patients' COVID-19 vaccine status, perspectives, and hypothetical receptivity to ED-based vaccination.

Methods: From January 11 through March 31, 2021, we conducted a multisite (Albany Medical Center, Boston Medical Center, Buffalo General Hospital, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, and Upstate Medical Center), cross-sectional survey of ED patients, with embedded randomization for participants to receive 1 of 4 vignette vaccination messages (simple opt-in message, recommendation by the hospital, community-oriented message, and acknowledgment of vaccine hesitancy).

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A comprehensive community status assessment of an Ohio urban county's crisis response (CR) system explored the experiences of its behavioral health services' clients and providers to surface themes characterizing the system's responsiveness and identifying opportunities for improvements. Forty-eight focus groups and two online surveys were conducted. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis and descriptive statistics.

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Youth experiencing substance use disorders often are susceptible to relapse because traditional support systems can be expensive, geographically dispersed, operated on limited schedules and lacking in peer support. The continuity of care offered via the digital Addiction Comprehensive Health Enhancement Support System (ACHESS) system holds promise in preventing relapse because of its portability and capability to foster virtually anytime/anywhere, cost-effective access to supportive interventions. The aim of this mixed-methods study was to evaluate the utility and impact of ACHESS on treatment adherence among youth with substance use disorders in an intensive outpatient program in the US Midwest.

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Understanding the social dynamics of local methamphetamine markets is critical to improving community health and reducing social costs associated with illicit drug use. We examine a local drug market in Summit County, Ohio, wherein methamphetamine users ascribe themselves different ethnic identities from those long associated with the drug elsewhere in the United States. Qualitative interviews with 52 study participants demonstrate that very poor and homeless White males and females are now using methamphetamine; however, even more surprising is that 31 of the participants identified themselves as poor or homeless, male or female African, Native, biracial, or multiracial Americans.

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