 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Melissa Tracy, BA, Sandro Galea, MD, MPH, Tinka Markham Piper, MPH, CSW, Phillip O Coffin, MIA, Jennifer Ahern, MPH, Danielle C. Ompad, PhD, and David Vlahov, PhD. Center for Urban Epidemiologic Studies, New York Academy of Medicine, 1216 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10029, 212-419-3583, mtracy@nyam.org
Most research about fatal and non-fatal overdose has focused on White drug users; relatively little is known about the determinants of overdose in Hispanic and Black populations. We assessed the determinants of non-fatal overdose experience in a predominantly minority population of injecting drug users (IDUs) in Central Harlem and the South Bronx, New York City. We are recruiting persons aged 18 and over who had used cocaine, crack, or heroin in the previous two months, and conducting in-person interviewer-administered surveys. Target recruitment is 1,000 persons. Preliminary data analysis has been carried out among 364 participants who had ever injected drugs [mean age 36.5 (range 18-56); 77.5% male; 66.8% Hispanic; 22.5% Black]. 45.3% reported having overdosed at least once in their lifetime. In bivariate analyses, determinants of prior overdose were: male gender, older age, sharing drug paraphernalia at last injection, and history of drug treatment, jail, and injecting heroin. In a final multivariable model, IDUs who had used tranquilizers, barbiturates, or benzodiazepines in the past year [adjusted OR: 3.0 (95% CI: 1.5-6.0)] and those who had ever witnessed someone else overdose [adjusted OR: 3.6 (95% CI: 1.8-7.2)] were more likely to have ever overdosed themselves. Educational and intervention efforts that target networks of drug users who engage in risky injection practices and polydrug use may reduce non-fatal overdose experience among minority populations.
Learning Objectives:
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.