Factors associated with non-fatal heroin overdose: assessing the effect of frequency and route of heroin administration.
OBJECTIVE
To examine risk factors associated with non-fatal heroin overdose, particularly frequency and route of heroin administration.


METHODS
Data from cross-sectional surveys were analysed as a case-control and as a case cross-over design.


METHODS
2556 subjects treated for heroin dependence in 164 outpatient facilities in Spain.


METHODS
Prevalence of overdose involving emergency care in the 12 months before treatment admission. CASE CONTROL DESIGN: Odds ratio (OR) adjusted by logistic regression. CASE-CROSSOVER DESIGN: Estimated relative risk (RR) of transient risk of injecting heroin.


RESULTS
The prevalence of overdose was 10%. In the case control analysis the cumulative risk of overdose increased as the frequency of heroin use decreased. However, among daily heroin users this risk increased as the frequency of heroin injection rose, with an OR of 6.0 (95% CI: 3.9-9.6) for daily injectors versus non-injectors. Sniffers had a higher risk than smokers among non-daily users, but not among daily users. Other factors associated with increased risk of overdose were: tranquilizers, alcohol or cocaine use, living in certain regions and being long-term HIV+ 0. In the case-crossover analysis, the RR for injecting heroin versus using other routes immediately before overdose was 15.9 (95% CI: 9.5-26.6), and was much higher for non-daily heroin users than for daily users.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that the rapid entry of a large quantity of heroin into the blood (as occurs when injecting) involves a high risk of overdose, especially when the heroin tolerance level is low (as occurs in sporadic users).
Brugal
M Teresa
MT
Institut Municipal de Salut Pública, Ayuntamiento de Barcelona, Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona, Spain. tbrugal@imsb.bcn.es
Barrio
Gregorio
G
De
La Fuente Luis
LF
Regidor
Enrique
E
Royuela
Luis
L
Suelves
Josep M
JM
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D062787:Drug Overdose / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D003932:Heroin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000506:poisoning*; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications
D003932:Heroin