Publications by authors named "W Scott Jenkins"
Background: Methamphetamine use is disproportionately high in rural settings, with rates increasing during the COVID-19 pandemic. While syringe service programs reduce disease transmission among people who inject drugs, limited research exists around the value of smoking equipment, specifically pipes, in minimizing harms associated with rural methamphetamine use.
Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews with people who use methamphetamine in rural southern Illinois.
Article Synopsis
- In recent rural U.S. studies, individuals who use drugs (PWUD) are increasingly combining opioids with stimulants like methamphetamine and cocaine.
- Among 2,705 PWUD surveyed, 74% reported using both opioids and stimulants, with 76% having undergone hepatitis C virus (HCV) testing.
- Those who used opioids alone had lower rates of HCV testing, and those using both opioids and stimulants were less likely to have received anti-HCV medication compared to those using other drugs.
Background: Over the last two decades, houselessness and drug-related epidemics both have expanded from urban to rural regions across the United States (US). However, our understanding of the relationship between rural houselessness, drug use, and drug-related harms has not kept pace. The current study addresses this gap by describing houselessness among a large cohort of people who use drugs (PWUD) from rural communities across 10 states.
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- Delirium is often overlooked in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), but recognizing it is crucial for improving patient outcomes.
- A quality improvement initiative aimed to increase delirium screening from 0% to 85% in NICU patients by March 2022, utilizing interdisciplinary meetings and standardized tools.
- The initiative achieved an average screening compliance of 82% before discharge, demonstrating that structured efforts can enhance delirium recognition in the NICU and suggesting areas for future research on patient outcomes.