What Heroin Users Tell Us About Overdose

Abstract

This study describes overdose experiences of heroin users, both the overdoses they themselves experienced, as well as those that they witnessed. A structured interview was performed with 101 current heroin users in Albuquerque, New Mexico from January 7, 2002 to February 26, 2002. Heroin-related overdoses were found to be common in this sample of heroin users. Three or more persons were reported to be present during 80 of the 95 most recently witnessed overdoses. An ambulance was called in only 42 of the 95 witnessed overdoses. Seventy-five percent of the respondents who witnessed an overdose stated concern over police involvement was an important reason for delay or absence of a 911 call for help. One hundred of the 101 respondents reported willingness, if trained, to use rescue breathing and to inject naloxone to aid an overdose victim. New methods need to be found to reduce heroin overdose death. Scientific studies are needed on the efficacy of take-home naloxone.

Police Officers’ and Paramedics’ Experiences with Overdose and Their Knowledge and Opinions of Washington State’s Drug Overdose–Naloxone–Good Samaritan Law

“…This finding is important in light of concerns expressed locally and in the research literature about the presence of police at the scene of an overdose. 5,12 Importantly, just a third of police felt it was important to be at the scene of an overdose to enforce laws. Some may view this as still too high a proportion and raises the point that the immunity provision in Washington State is quite narrow, whereas several states passed legislation in 2013 with broader immunity such as New Jersey which provided protection from revocation of probation or parole.…”

“…12,13 In a Baltimore study, 37 % of injection drug users who did not call 911 during an overdose endorsed concerns about police as the most important reason they did not call. 13 Several states have enacted laws, commonly called Good Samaritan laws, to encourage calling 911 during overdoses on controlled substances; these laws are in part modeled on college campus alcohol Good Samaritan policies.…”

Mortality among drug users after discharge from inpatient treatment: An 8-year prospective study

“…First, it is important to ensure that clients in MFIT/TCs take part as early as in overdose prevention awareness programmes with particular emphasis on the nature of overdose risk in the event of leaving treatment prematurely. Studies show that drug users are an overlooked potential workforce, interested in and willing to attend preventive training courses and to apply such knowledge when necessary (Strang et al, 2008;Baca and Grant, 2007;Lagu et al, 2006).…”

Attitudes of Australian Heroin Users to Peer Distribution of Naloxone for Heroin Overdose: Perspectives on Intranasal Administration

“…1,7,24 The most concerning of these included a potential increased reluctance to call an ambulance after naloxone treatment for peers, anticipated by 62% of our sample. To our knowledge such an effect has not been documented in relation to programs that have been implemented in other jurisdictions, but such an effect would need to be closely monitored in a 25 This is particularly important in situations where drugs other than heroin may be involved as there is evidence that more obtunded patients (e.g., alcohol affected) may require larger naloxone doses for successful resuscitation.…”