Provision of naloxone to injection drug users as an overdose prevention strategy: early evidence from a pilot study in New York City.
BACKGROUND
Naloxone, an opiate antagonist that can avert opiate overdose morality, has long been prescribed to drug users in Europe and in a few US cities. However, there has been little documented evidence of naloxone distribution programs and their feasibility in the peer reviewed literature in the US.


METHODS
A pilot overdose prevention and reversal program was implemented in a New York City syringe exchange program. We assessed demographics, drug use, and overdose history, experience, and behavior at baseline, when participants returned for prescription refills, and 3 months after baseline assessment.


RESULTS
25 participants were recruited. 22 (88%) participants were successfully followed-up in the first 3 months; of these, 11 (50%) participants reported witnessing a total of 26 overdoses during the follow-up period. Among 17 most-recent overdoses witnessed, naloxone was administered 10 times; all persons who had naloxone administered lived.


CONCLUSIONS
Naloxone administration by injection drug users is feasible as part of a comprehensive overdose prevention strategy and may be a practicable way to reduce overdose deaths on a larger scale.
Galea
Sandro
S
Center for Urban Epidemiologic Studies, New York Academy of Medicine, New York, NY 10029, USA. sgalea@umich.edu
Worthington
Nancy
N
Piper
Tinka Markham
TM
Nandi
Vijay V
VV
Curtis
Matt
M
Rosenthal
David M
DM
D062787:Drug Overdose / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009270:Naloxone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018671:Needle-Exchange Programs; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015397:Program Evaluation; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications / Q000534:rehabilitation*
D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D009270:Naloxone