The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #46552

Peter J Davidson, BA¹, Kristen C. Ochoa, BA², Judy Hahn, PHD², Jennifer Evans, MS², and Andrew R Moss, PHD². (1) Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, 74 New Montgomery St Suite 600, San Francisco, CA 94105, 415 597 9151, pjd@itsa.ucsf.edu, (2) Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of California, San Francisco, 74 New Montgomery St Suite 600, San Francisco, CA 94105

Objectives. Assessment of exposure of young injectors to others' heroin-related overdose and their willingness to respond appropriately. Methods. Structured interviews were conducted with 973 street-recruited current injectors under 30 years old. Findings. 709/973 (73%) had ever witnessed at least one heroin-related overdose, and 491/973 (50%) had witnessed an overdose in the last 12 months. 14% of overdoses witnessed in the past year resulted in death. Emergency services were called at 52% of all witnessed overdoses. Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation or Expired Air Resuscitation (EAR or 'rescue breathing') were performed in 61% of cases. Inappropriate strategies such as injection with stimulants or application of ice were rare. In two thirds of cases in which emergency services were not called the witness said this was because the victim "came back". In the remaining third, 56% of the witnessed said emergency services were not called due to fear of the police. Conclusions. Respondents were willing to act at overdoses at which they were present, but were not always able to do so in the most efficacious or timely manner. Fear of police was identified as the most significant barrier to accessing emergency services.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, participants in this session will be able to

• articulate the nature of young injecting drug users' responses to the overdoses of peers.

Keywords: Drug Injectors, Youth

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.