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Young people who use drugs engaged in harm reduction programs in New York City: Overdose and other risks
- Source :
- Drug and Alcohol Dependence. 178:106-114
- Publication Year :
- 2017
- Publisher :
- Elsevier BV, 2017.
-
Abstract
- Background Little is known about the engagement of young people who use drugs (PWUD) in harm reduction programs (HRPs), and few studies have included non-opioid users and non-injectors. While HRPs have effectively engaged PWUD, young people are under-represented in their services. Methods The Injection Drug Users Health Alliance Citywide Study (IDUCS) is the largest community-based study of PWUD in HRPs in the US. From 2014–2015, 2421 HRP participants across New York City (NYC) completed a cross-sectional survey. We investigated differences in socio-demographics, service utilization, and risk behaviors between young (aged 18–30) and older participants and examined factors associated with overdose among young participants. Results The study included 257 young participants. They were significantly more likely than older participants to be white, educated, uninsured, unstably housed or homeless, and have a history of incarceration and residential drug treatment. They were more likely to report recent overdose but less likely to report knowledge of naloxone. Young participants also had higher rates of alcohol, marijuana, benzodiazepine, and injection drug use, and related risk behaviors such as public injection. Factors associated with past year overdose among young participants included experiencing symptoms of psychological distress (AOR = 9.71), being unstably housed or homeless (AOR = 4.39), and utilizing detox (AOR = 4.20). Conclusions Young PWUD who access services at HRPs in NYC differ significantly from their older counterparts. New York City and other urban centers that attract young PWUD should consider implementing harm reduction oriented services tailored to the unique needs of young people.
- Subjects :
- Risk
Gerontology
medicine.medical_specialty
Poison control
Toxicology
Suicide prevention
Occupational safety and health
Drug Users
03 medical and health sciences
Risk-Taking
0302 clinical medicine
Harm Reduction
Naloxone
Injury prevention
Humans
Medicine
Pharmacology (medical)
030212 general & internal medicine
Young adult
Substance Abuse, Intravenous
Psychiatry
Pharmacology
Harm reduction
030505 public health
business.industry
Human factors and ergonomics
Psychiatry and Mental health
Cross-Sectional Studies
New York City
Drug Overdose
0305 other medical science
business
medicine.drug
Subjects
Details
- ISSN :
- 03768716
- Volume :
- 178
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- Drug and Alcohol Dependence
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....d685771f6f9119c3c387a41210077fa4