Abstract
In response to the growing public health problem of drug overdose, community-based organizations have initiated overdose prevention
programs (OPPs), which distribute naloxone, an opioid antagonist, and teach overdose response techniques. Injection drug users
(IDUs) have been targeted for this intervention due to their high risk for drug overdose. Limited research attention has focused
on factors that may inhibit or prevent IDUs who have been trained by OPPs to undertake recommended response techniques when
responding to a drug overdose. IDUs (n = 30) trained by two OPPs in Los Angeles were interviewed in 2010–2011 about responses
to their most recently witnessed drug overdose using an instrument containing both open and closed-ended questions. Among
the 30 witnessed overdose events, the victim recovered in 29 cases while the outcome was unknown in one case. Participants
responded to overdoses using a variety of techniques taught by OPPs. Injecting the victim with naloxone was the most commonly
recommended response while other recommended responses included stimulating the victim with knuckles, calling 911, and giving
rescue breathing. Barriers preventing participants from employing recommended response techniques in certain circumstances
included prior successes using folk remedies to revive a victim, concerns over attracting police to the scene, and issues
surrounding access to or use of naloxone. Practical solutions, such as developing booster sessions to augment OPPs, are encouraged
to increase the likelihood that trained participants respond to a drug overdose with the full range of recommended techniques.
programs (OPPs), which distribute naloxone, an opioid antagonist, and teach overdose response techniques. Injection drug users
(IDUs) have been targeted for this intervention due to their high risk for drug overdose. Limited research attention has focused
on factors that may inhibit or prevent IDUs who have been trained by OPPs to undertake recommended response techniques when
responding to a drug overdose. IDUs (n = 30) trained by two OPPs in Los Angeles were interviewed in 2010–2011 about responses
to their most recently witnessed drug overdose using an instrument containing both open and closed-ended questions. Among
the 30 witnessed overdose events, the victim recovered in 29 cases while the outcome was unknown in one case. Participants
responded to overdoses using a variety of techniques taught by OPPs. Injecting the victim with naloxone was the most commonly
recommended response while other recommended responses included stimulating the victim with knuckles, calling 911, and giving
rescue breathing. Barriers preventing participants from employing recommended response techniques in certain circumstances
included prior successes using folk remedies to revive a victim, concerns over attracting police to the scene, and issues
surrounding access to or use of naloxone. Practical solutions, such as developing booster sessions to augment OPPs, are encouraged
to increase the likelihood that trained participants respond to a drug overdose with the full range of recommended techniques.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Category Original Paper
- Pages 1-9
- DOI 10.1007/s10900-012-9591-7
- Authors
- Stephen E. Lankenau, Department of Community Health and Prevention, School of Public Health, Drexel University, 1505 Race Street, 11th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA
- Karla D. Wagner, Division of Global Public Health, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, 10111 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Karol Silva, Department of Community Health and Prevention, School of Public Health, Drexel University, 1505 Race Street, 11th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA
- Aleksandar Kecojevic, Department of Community Health and Prevention, School of Public Health, Drexel University, 1505 Race Street, 11th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA
- Ellen Iverson, Division of Adolescent Medicine, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, 5000 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA
- Miles McNeely, Division of Adolescent Medicine, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, 5000 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA
- Alex H. Kral, RTI International, 114 Sansome Street, San Francisco, CA 94104, USA
- Journal Journal of Community Health
- Online ISSN 1573-3610
- Print ISSN 0094-5145