Homeless Vulnerability During an Opioid Epidemic: Assessing the Mortality Risk Among People Experiencing Homelessness in Southern California.

People experiencing homelessness suffer from a risk of mortality three to four times that of the general population, with drug-induced overdose replacing HIV as the emerging epidemic. This study assessed markers of mortality among people experiencing homelessness (N=157) in Orange County, CA during the Fall of 2016. We utilized the Vulnerability Index, an eight-question survey, to identify factors that may affect mortality risk among individuals experiencing homelessness and included two additional questions to identify potential risk of drug-induced overdose.

Understanding Contraceptive Needs of Women Who Inject Drugs in Orange County: A Qualitative Study.

Objectives: Women with opioid use disorder experience higher rates of unintended pregnancy compared with the general US population. Our aim was to examine the factors that may affect access to desired contraception for women who use injection drugs.

Methods: Using purposive sampling, we conducted semi-structured interviews pertaining to contraceptive use with 14 women ages 18 to 44 who were current users of injection drugs living in Orange County, CA between March and December 2019.

One Night Stan: Feasibility Study of an HIV Prevention and Sexual Risk Reduction Social Card Game for Young Black Women.

Objective: To develop and test the feasibility and preliminary impact of the social card game prototype, One Night Stan, a theory-driven and evidence-based human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention intervention for young black women.

Materials And Methods: The study included the enrollment of 21 young, heterosexual black women (mean age 19) to test the feasibility and preliminary impact of the card game, using a pre/postdesign. Participant satisfaction and gameplay experience were assessed using quantitative and qualitative measures.