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The extent of and factors associated with self-reported overdose and self-reported receipt of naloxone among people who inject drugs (PWID) in England, Wales and Northern Ireland
- Source :
- The International journal on drug policy. 46
- Publication Year :
- 2016
-
Abstract
- BACKGROUND: Overdose is a major cause of death among PWID, and for opioid overdoses naloxone administration can reduce harm. However, globally there is limited national level data on the extent of non-fatal overdose and naloxone uptake. The first national level data on the extent of self-reported overdose and self-reported receipt of naloxone among UK PWID, providing a baseline to monitor the impact of the recent policy change regarding naloxone availability, is presented. METHODS: Data on self-reported overdose and receipt of naloxone during the preceding year for 2013-2014 from a national survey of PWID was analysed. Participants who reported injecting during the preceding year were included. RESULTS: Participants (3850) were predominantly male (75%); mean age was 36 years. The most commonly injected drugs were: heroin (91%), crack (45%) and amphetamine (29%). 15% (591) reported overdosing during the preceding year. There were no differences in the proportion reporting overdose by age or gender, but overdose was more common among those who: injected multiple drugs; recently ceased addiction treatment; injected with used needles/syringes; ever had transactional sex; had used a sexual health clinic or emergency department and lived in Wales or Northern Ireland. Among those reporting an overdose during the preceding year, a third reported two to four overdoses and 7.5% five or more overdoses; half reported receiving naloxone. Those reporting naloxone receipt in the preceding year were more likely to: live in Wales or Northern Ireland; ever received used needles/syringes; ever been imprisoned; and less likely to have injected two drug types. CONCLUSION: These data provide a baseline for monitoring the impact of the 2015 UK policy change to improve take-home naloxone access. Interventions tackling overdose should promote naloxone awareness and access, and target those who; are poly-drug injectors, have ceased treatment, share needles/syringes and whose drug use links to sexual activity.
- Subjects :
- RA1190
Adult
Male
medicine.medical_specialty
Sexual health clinic
Substance-Related Disorders
Narcotic Antagonists
030508 substance abuse
Medicine (miscellaneous)
Poison control
Transactional sex
Northern Ireland
Heroin
03 medical and health sciences
0302 clinical medicine
Risk-Taking
Harm Reduction
RA0421
Risk Factors
Naloxone
Surveys and Questionnaires
Injury prevention
medicine
Humans
Needle Sharing
030212 general & internal medicine
Substance Abuse, Intravenous
Harm reduction
Wales
business.industry
Health Policy
medicine.disease
Opioid-Related Disorders
Opioid
England
Emergency medicine
RA1001
Female
Medical emergency
Self Report
Drug Overdose
0305 other medical science
business
medicine.drug
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 18734758
- Volume :
- 46
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- The International journal on drug policy
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....2c21cb0d9a34e4faabbc155ee30275e0