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When Knowledge and Experience Do Not Help: A Study of Nonfatal Drug Overdoses
Jake M Najman1, Fairlie McIlwraith, Robert Kemp
1Queensland Alcohol and Drug Research and Education Centre (QADREC), School of Public Health, University of Queensland (JMN, FM, AS); and Communicable Diseases Unit, Chief Health Officer Branch, Health Services and Clinical Innovation Division, Department of Health, Queensland Government, Herston, Queensland, Australia (RK).
Journal of Addiction Medicine
|April 4, 2017
Summary
Many people who inject drugs (PWID) continue risky substance use despite previous nonfatal overdoses. Most accidental overdoses involved pharmaceutical opioids and benzodiazepines, often occurring at home without emergency medical services being called.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Addiction Medicine
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Rising overdose deaths in Australia necessitate understanding contributing factors.
- Nonfatal drug overdoses among people who inject drugs (PWID) require examination.
- Previous overdose history is a significant risk factor for future overdoses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine the experiences of PWID who have had a nonfatal drug overdose in the past 12 months.
- To identify factors contributing to accidental overdoses in this population.
- To understand patterns of substance use and healthcare-seeking behavior following overdose.
Main Methods:
- Qualitative interviews conducted with 50 people who inject drugs (PWID).
- Participants recruited from Needle and Syringe Program sites in Australia.
- Interviews focused on experiences with nonfatal overdose in the preceding 12 months.
Main Results:
- Participants were typically male, middle-aged, with long injecting histories, often using pharmaceutical opioids.
- Most overdoses occurred at home; emergency medical services were infrequently called (38%) or hospital admission sought (26%).
- Poly drug use, particularly involving benzodiazepines, was common; many participants had a history of overdosing and continued at-risk substance use.
Conclusions:
- Accidental overdoses among PWID are frequently associated with pharmaceutical opioids and benzodiazepines.
- There is a concerning pattern of continued high-risk substance use among individuals with a history of overdose.
- Improved harm reduction strategies and access to overdose prevention and treatment services are crucial for this population.