Opioid overdose among undergraduate college students based on geographical distance from the Texas/Mexico border

Abstract

The opioid epidemic is a crisis within the U.S. This study examines opioid overdose rates among undergraduate college students around the Texas/Mexico border. This meta-analysis focused on existing opioid literature from 2016 to 2024 by utilizing PubMed, Google Scholar, Springer Link, and EBSCOhost. Keywords and phrases used included college opioid misuse, college opioid misuse along the U.S. Texas border, college opioid misuse in Texas, and 18-24-year-olds abusing opioids in Texas. Inclusion criteria included Texas/ Mexico border geographical location and first-time undergraduate students attending a 4-year institution. Exclusion criteria included residing away from the Texas/Mexico border, two-year institutions, and non-traditional first-year college students. Fourteen articles were found but only five of the articles met the inclusion criteria. Data suggests that 26,073 undergraduate students were exposed to or experienced firsthand opioid misuse. Females were found to have higher rates of exposure than their male counterparts. Results reflect higher exposure rates among African American and Hispanic populations, with Hispanics reflecting a significantly higher increase in comparison to the other ethnic populations. Traditionally, research and prevention strategies primarily targeted opioid misusers, with only a few studies dedicated to identifying the impacts of those exposed to opioids. Findings in this meta-analysis study suggest that Hispanic females run a greater risk of exposure than their undergraduate counterparts. Surprisingly, data related to specific geographical location rates of exposure were unable provide definitive patterns of opioid exposure, suggesting further research related to specific geographical rates should be conducted. Lastly, it is recommended that future research focus on impacts related to exposure, and interventions that focus on those who have been exposed to opioid addictions.