OBJECTIVES: This study sought to determine prevalence of and risk factors for nonfatal recent overdose among street-recruited injection heroin users. METHODS: From August 1998 through July 1999, 1427 heroin injectors were recruited from 6 inner-city neighborhoods in the San Francisco Bay Area, Calif, and interviewed. Factors hypothesized to be associated with recent overdose were analyzed with logistic regression. RESULTS: Of the 1427 participants, 684 (48%) had had an overdose, 466 (33%) had experienced 2 or more overdose events, and 182 (13%) had had a recent overdose. In multiple logistic regression, being younger (adjusted odds ratio [OR] for each year of increasing age = 0.95; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.94, 0.97), having been arrested 3 or more times in the past year (adjusted OR = 2.50; 95% CI = 1.61, 3.87), drinking 4 or more alcoholic drinks per day (adjusted OR = 2.05; 95% CI = 1.37, 3.05), and having participated in methadone detoxification during the past year (adjusted OR = 1.47; 95% CI = 1.03, 2.09) were independently associated with recent overdose. Being homeless; identifying as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender; having spent 5 or more years in prison or jail; and having engaged in sex work also were associated with recent overdose. CONCLUSIONS: Targeted interventions that decrease risk for overdose are urgently needed.
OBJECTIVES: This study sought to determine prevalence of and risk factors for nonfatal recent overdose among street-recruited injection heroin users. METHODS: From August 1998 through July 1999, 1427 heroin injectors were recruited from 6 inner-city neighborhoods in the San Francisco Bay Area, Calif, and interviewed. Factors hypothesized to be associated with recent overdose were analyzed with logistic regression. RESULTS: Of the 1427 participants, 684 (48%) had had an overdose, 466 (33%) had experienced 2 or more overdose events, and 182 (13%) had had a recent overdose. In multiple logistic regression, being younger (adjusted odds ratio [OR] for each year of increasing age = 0.95; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.94, 0.97), having been arrested 3 or more times in the past year (adjusted OR = 2.50; 95% CI = 1.61, 3.87), drinking 4 or more alcoholic drinks per day (adjusted OR = 2.05; 95% CI = 1.37, 3.05), and having participated in methadone detoxification during the past year (adjusted OR = 1.47; 95% CI = 1.03, 2.09) were independently associated with recent overdose. Being homeless; identifying as gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender; having spent 5 or more years in prison or jail; and having engaged in sex work also were associated with recent overdose. CONCLUSIONS: Targeted interventions that decrease risk for overdose are urgently needed.
Authors: Stacey C Sigmon; Adam Bisaga; Edward V Nunes; Patrick G O'Connor; Thomas Kosten; George Woody Journal: Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse Date: 2012-03-12 Impact factor: 3.829
Authors: Josiah D Rich; Amy E Boutwell; David C Shield; R Garrett Key; Michelle McKenzie; Jennifer G Clarke; Peter D Friedmann Journal: J Urban Health Date: 2005-05-25 Impact factor: 3.671
Authors: Ingrid A Binswanger; Marc F Stern; Richard A Deyo; Patrick J Heagerty; Allen Cheadle; Joann G Elmore; Thomas D Koepsell Journal: N Engl J Med Date: 2007-01-11 Impact factor: 91.245