Karla D Wagner1, Peter J Davidson2, Ellen Iverson3, Rachel Washburn4, Emily Burke5, Alex H Kral6, Miles McNeeley7, Jennifer Jackson Bloom3, Stephen E Lankenau5. 1. Division of Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, MC 0507, San Diego, CA 92093-0507, USA. Electronic address: kdwagner@ucsd.edu. 2. Division of Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, MC 0507, San Diego, CA 92093-0507, USA. 3. Division of Adolescent Medicine, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, 4650 Sunset Boulevard, MS 2, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA. 4. Department of Sociology, Loyola Marymount University, One LMU Drive, Suite 4314, Los Angeles, CA 90045-2659, USA. 5. Department of Community Health and Prevention, Drexel University School of Public Health, 1505 Race Street, Bellet Building, Philadelphia, PA 19102-1192, USA. 6. Urban Health Program, RTI International, San Francisco Regional Office, 114 Sansome Street, Suite 500, San Francisco, CA 94104, USA. 7. Community, Health Outcomes and Intervention Research Program, The Saban Research Institute, Children's Hospital Los Angeles, 4650 Sunset Boulevard, MS 30, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Overdose prevention programs (OPPs) train people who inject drugs and other community members to prevent, recognise and respond to opioid overdose. However, little is known about the experience of taking up the role of an "overdose responder" for the participants. METHODS: We present findings from qualitative interviews with 30 participants from two OPPs in Los Angeles, CA, USA from 2010 to 2011 who had responded to at least one overdose since being trained in overdose prevention and response. RESULTS: Being trained by an OPP and responding to overdoses had both positive and negative effects for trained "responders". Positive effects include an increased sense of control and confidence, feelings of heroism and pride, and a recognition and appreciation of one's expertise. Negative effects include a sense of burden, regret, fear, and anger, which sometimes led to cutting social ties, but might also be mitigated by the increased empowerment associated with the positive effects. CONCLUSION: Findings suggest that becoming an overdose responder can involve taking up a new social role that has positive effects, but also confers some stress that may require additional support. OPPs should provide flexible opportunities for social support to individuals making the transition to this new and critical social role. Equipping individuals with the skills, technology, and support they need to respond to drug overdose has the potential to confer both individual and community-wide benefits.
BACKGROUND:Overdose prevention programs (OPPs) train people who inject drugs and other community members to prevent, recognise and respond to opioid overdose. However, little is known about the experience of taking up the role of an "overdose responder" for the participants. METHODS: We present findings from qualitative interviews with 30 participants from two OPPs in Los Angeles, CA, USA from 2010 to 2011 who had responded to at least one overdose since being trained in overdose prevention and response. RESULTS: Being trained by an OPP and responding to overdoses had both positive and negative effects for trained "responders". Positive effects include an increased sense of control and confidence, feelings of heroism and pride, and a recognition and appreciation of one's expertise. Negative effects include a sense of burden, regret, fear, and anger, which sometimes led to cutting social ties, but might also be mitigated by the increased empowerment associated with the positive effects. CONCLUSION: Findings suggest that becoming an overdose responder can involve taking up a new social role that has positive effects, but also confers some stress that may require additional support. OPPs should provide flexible opportunities for social support to individuals making the transition to this new and critical social role. Equipping individuals with the skills, technology, and support they need to respond to drug overdose has the potential to confer both individual and community-wide benefits.
Authors: Robin A Pollini; Lisa McCall; Shruti H Mehta; David Vlahov; Steffanie A Strathdee Journal: Drug Alcohol Depend Date: 2005-11-23 Impact factor: 4.492
Authors: R S Broadhead; D D Heckathorn; D L Weakliem; D L Anthony; H Madray; R J Mills; J Hughes Journal: Public Health Rep Date: 1998-06 Impact factor: 2.792
Authors: Angela R Bazzi; Dea L Biancarelli; Ellen Childs; Mari-Lynn Drainoni; Alberto Edeza; Peter Salhaney; Matthew J Mimiaga; Katie B Biello Journal: AIDS Patient Care STDS Date: 2018-10-11 Impact factor: 5.078
Authors: Sarah M Bagley; Joanne Peterson; Debbie M Cheng; Charles Jose; Emily Quinn; Patrick G O'Connor; Alexander Y Walley Journal: Subst Abus Date: 2015-01-07 Impact factor: 3.716
Authors: Joanne Neale; Caral Brown; Aimee N C Campbell; Jermaine D Jones; Verena E Metz; John Strang; Sandra D Comer Journal: Addiction Date: 2018-12-28 Impact factor: 6.526