Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #114183

Sandro Galea, MD, MPH¹, Nancy Worthington², Tinka Markham Piper, MPH, CSW¹, Matt Curtis³, and David Rosenthal². (1) Center for Urban Epidemiologic Studies, New York Academy of Medicine, 1216 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10029, 212-419-3584, kmarkham@nyam.org, (2) Lower East Side Harm Reduction Center, 25 Allen Street, New York, NY 10002, (3) Open Society Institute, 400 W. 59th Street, New York, NY 10019

Drug-induced and drug-related deaths have been increasing for the past decade throughout the US. Half of illicit drug users report at least one nonfatal overdose during their lifetime. In NYC, approximately 900 persons die from drug overdoses yearly, more than in any other US city. Naloxone, an opiate antagonist, has long been routinely given by doctors and paramedics during emergency resuscitation after an opiate overdose. Programs in Europe and in a few cities in the United States have been established to distribute naloxone to drug users themselves to permit immediate reversal of opiate overdoses. The Overdose Prevention and Reversal Program at the Lower East Side Harm Reduction Center (LESHRC), started in June 2004, was the first such program in NYC. This paper will report about LESHRC's early experience with naloxone distribution. In the first 6 months of program inception, 25 opiate users were trained by LESHRC staff in the use of naloxone and 25 prescriptions for naloxone were dispensed by a staff physician. Over the 6 month period, there were 23 overdoses witnessed by the 25 participants in the naloxone distribution program. Eight persons used naloxone to reverse an overdose; two persons used naloxone on two separate occasions. All overdose victims who were administered naloxone survived. Details about characteristics of the program and persons who received naloxone, most of whom also witnessed overdose events, will be presented. Distribution of naloxone to opiate users has the potential to substantially reduce mortality from drug overdose in New York City.

Learning Objectives:

• 1. Describe trends in drug overdose in NYC and the potential role of naloxone in reducing fatal opiate drug overdose
• 2. Discuss the goals and objectives of the Overdose Prevention and Reversal Program at the Lower East Side Harm Reduction Center (LESHRC) in New York City
• 3. Identify initial findings from the LESHRC naloxone distribution program, including participant experience with naloxone and overdose experience

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.