Social network correlates of self-reported non-fatal overdose.
The leading cause of death among heroin users is drug overdose. The present study examined the relationship between history of self-reported drug overdoses and social network characteristics among cocaine and opiate users. Data were from cross-sectional surveys administered from March 2001 through February 2003 as part of follow-up of an experimental network oriented HIV prevention intervention. A total of 838 participants with histories of cocaine and opiate use completed the survey. Several social network variables were found to be significantly associated with drug overdose in the prior 2 years, including larger number of network members who were injection drug users and a larger number of conflictual ties among the network members. Even after controlling for age, gender, frequency of injection drug and alcohol use, and health status, network variables continued to have a strong association with history of recent overdose. These data suggest that large drug networks should be targeted for drug overdose prevention interventions.
Latkin
Carl A
CA
Division of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Department of Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. clatkin@jhsph.edu
Hua
Wei
W
Tobin
Karin
K
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D015142:Baltimore / Q000453:epidemiology; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D016578:Crack Cocaine; D062787:Drug Overdose / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology / Q000635:transmission; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D003932:Heroin / Q000506:poisoning*; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012932:Social Facilitation; D012944:Social Support; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D016578:Crack Cocaine; D003932:Heroin