The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #69287

Rachel L. Anderson, BA¹, Lynell Clancy¹, MAry Howe², Neil Flynn, MD, MPH¹, and Inessa Gofman, BS³. (1) Infectious Diseases, UC Davis, 4150 V St., Suite 500, Sacramento, CA 95817, 916-734-7233, rjvanderson@ucdavis.edu, (2) San Francisco Needle Exchange, 1388 Haight Street, #213, San Francisco, CA 94117, (3) School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, 4150 V street, Suite 500, Sacramento, CA 95817

In response to evidence of increasing mortality due to drug-related overdoses, Sacramento Area Needle Exchange (SANE) staff interviewed 200 program participants and San Francisco Needle Exchange (SFNE) staff interviewed 75 of their program participants during 2001-2003. SFNE has a formal overdose (OD) prevention/response program. SANE does not. The administered interviews lasted approximately 30 minutes and participants were paid $10 for their time and expertise. Drug injectors were interviewed about a drug-related OD they experienced or witnessed in the 12 months prior to the interview. The interviewees injected primarily heroin or methamphetamines. To date, data has been analyzed for 181 of these interviews. Fifty percent of the interviews in Sacramento (SI) and 31% of the San Francisco interviews (SFI) were conducted with women; half of SI and 14% of SFI were conducted with people of color. Survey respondents ranged in age from 16-59, with an average age of 42 in Sacramento and 24 in San Francisco. Forty-one percent of the SI and 93% of SFI had experienced an drug-related OD in the 12 months prior to the interview. Ninety-five percent (SI) and 55% (SFI) had witnessed an OD (13 and 2 fatal). Fifty-five percent (SI) and 82% (SFI) of these experienced events involved heroin; 18% (SI) and 19% (SFI) involved methamphetamines; and 73% (SI) and 60% (SFI) involved alcohol. Of SI, 62% and 63% (SFI) reported 911 was not called. Only 17% (SI) and 30% (SFI) reported being alone at the time of the OD, suggesting ample opportunity for intervention.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the presentation, participants will be able to: 1)describe the common circumstances and IDU responses related to drug- related overdose;
• identify risk factors for overdose; and
• recognize the value of overdose recognition/prevention/response programs.

Keywords: Injection Drug Users, Intervention

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.