Risk Factors for Overdose in Young People Who Received Substance Use Disorder Treatment

To identify substance and psychiatric predictors of overdose (OD) in young people with substance use disorders (SUDs) who received treatment.

We conducted a retrospective review of consecutive medical records of young people who were evaluated in a SUD program between 2012 and 2013 and received treatment. An independent group of patients from the same program who received treatment and had a fatal OD were also included in the sample. OD was defined as substance use associated with a significant impairment in level of consciousness without intention of self-harm, or an ingestion of a substance that was reported as a suicide attempt. t Tests, Pearson's χ² , and Fisher's exact tests were performed to identify predictors of OD after receiving treatment.

After initial evaluation, 127 out of 200 patients followed up for treatment and were included in the sample. Ten (8%) of these patients had a nonfatal OD. Nine patients who received treatment and had a fatal OD were also identified. The sample's mean age was 20.2 ± 2.8 years. Compared with those without OD, those with OD were more likely to have a history of intravenous drug use (odds ratio [OR]: 36.5, P < .001) and mood disorder not otherwise specified (OR: 4.51, P = .01).

Intravenous drug use and mood dysregulation increased risk for OD in young people who received SUD treatment.

It is important to identify clinically relevant risk factors for OD specific to young people in SUD treatment due to the risk for death associated with OD. (Am J Addict 2019;28:382-389).