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"If It Didn't Get Reported, It Didn't Happen": Current Nonfatal Overdose Reporting Practices among Nontraditional
Kasey Claborn1,2,3, Jessica Duncan Cance4, Heather Kane4
1Steve Hicks School of Social Work, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, USA.
Substance Use & Misuse
|March 21, 2023
Summary
Texas overdose deaths are rising. A unified reporting system is needed to track nonfatal overdoses and improve public health response for all populations, including hidden drug user groups.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Substance Use Disorder Research
Background:
- Drug overdose deaths in Texas have significantly increased, rising 33% in the year leading up to December 2020.
- Accurate data on nonfatal overdoses, including substances, demographics, and reversal agents, is crucial for effective response.
Purpose of the Study:
- To understand current overdose reporting methods used by harm reduction workers in Texas.
- To identify challenges and recommendations for improving statewide overdose surveillance.
Main Methods:
- Conducted 20 semi-structured interviews with harm reduction workers across four Texas counties.
- Utilized thematic analysis of interview transcripts to identify emergent themes related to overdose data collection and surveillance.
Main Results:
- Harm reduction organizations use diverse, often suboptimal, data collection methods (Excel, web apps, personal notes).
- A need exists for a unified, statewide system for improved overdose data capture.
- Overdose surveillance must include "hidden populations" not typically reached by the healthcare system.
Conclusions:
- Texas currently lacks a unified system for comprehensive overdose reporting.
- Nontraditional reporters, like harm reduction organizations, are vital for capturing data from hard-to-reach populations.
- Harm reduction groups can improve overdose surveillance by engaging community gatekeepers and people who use drugs.
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