Risk of overdose : do those who witness most overdoses also experience most overdoses?

MAN, L. H., BEST, David, GOSSOP, M., NOBLE, A. and STRANG, J. (2002). Risk of overdose : do those who witness most overdoses also experience most overdoses? Journal of Substance Use, 7 (3), 136-140.

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Abstract

One hundred and sixteen methadone maintenance clients were interviewed about experiences of personal and witnessed overdoses. Almost half (n = 57, 49%) had experienced 201 personal overdoses, 10 of whom (17.5%) had overdosed in the previous year. Over four-fifths of the sample (n = 98, 85%) had witnessed an overdose, and 35 had witnessed 109 fatalities. Categories were created to differentiate between those who had experienced high and low numbers of (1) personal, (2) witnessed non-fatal and (3) witnessed fatal overdoses. For personal overdose, the high-rate group had used alcohol more often. For witnessed non-fatal overdose, the high-rate group had witnessed more non-fatal and fatal overdoses; and for fatal witnessed overdoses, the high rate-group had used crack cocaine more often and witnessed more non-fatal overdoses. An association was found between injecting and personal and witnessed non-fatal overdose. There is a 'high-risk' group of drug users who experience most personal and witnessed overdoses. Overdoses are serious and frequent problems and appropriate interventions should be strengthened.

Item Type:	Article
Research Institute, Centre or Group - Does NOT include content added after October 2018:	Law Research Group
Page Range:	136-140
Depositing User:	Hilary Ridgway
Date Deposited:	20 Jan 2015 10:37
Last Modified:	18 Mar 2021 09:30
URI:	https://shura.shu.ac.uk/id/eprint/9270

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