earticle

영어

Although fentanyl was originally developed as a potent pain reliever, it has become a major contributor to the ongoing opioid epidemic in the United States. However, limited research has explored how sociodemographic and pandemic-related factors jointly influence vulnerability to fentanyl use. Thus, this study examined the associations between age, marital status, education, income, self-reported health, and COVID-19–related treatment disruptions with past-year fentanyl use and further tested income as a moderating factor. The analysis was performed using data from the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), employing chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regression. The results showed that age, marital status, education, income, and health status were significantly associated with fentanyl use, while pandemic-related treatment delays and unmet healthcare needs were linked to higher prevalence of use. In the multivariate model, individuals reporting negative health impacts due to lack of treatment were less likely to use fentanyl, and income moderated the relationship between treatment delays and fentanyl use. These findings are valuable in understanding how sociodemographic disparities and healthcare disruptions interact to shape fentanyl misuse, highlighting the moderating role of income in treatment-related vulnerability. This study suggests that equity-focused policies ensuring stable healthcare access and socioeconomic support are essential to reducing fentanyl-related harm in future crises.