Patterns of nonfatal heroin overdose over a 3-year period: findings from the Australian treatment outcome study.
To determine annual patterns and correlates of nonfatal heroin overdose across 3 years, data were analyzed on 387 heroin users recruited for the Australian Treatment Outcome Study (ATOS), interviewed at 12, 24, and 36 months. A heroin overdose across follow-up was reported by 18.6%, and naloxone had been administered to 11.9%. Annual rates of overdose declined between baseline and 12 months and then remained stable. Previous overdose experience was strongly related to subsequent overdose. Those with a history of overdose before ATOS were significantly more likely to overdose during the study period. In particular, there was a strong association between overdose experience in any 1 year and increased overdose risk in the subsequent year. This is the first study to examine long-term annual trends in nonfatal heroin overdose. While overdose rates declined after extensive treatment, substantial proportions continued to overdose in each year, and this was strongly associated with overdose history.
Darke
Shane
S
National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia. s.darke@unsw.edu.au
Williamson
Anna
A
Ross
Joanne
J
Mills
Katherine L
KL
Havard
Alys
A
Teesson
Maree
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002047:Buprenorphine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015331:Cohort Studies; D062787:Drug Overdose / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D017050:Episode of Care; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D003932:Heroin / Q000506:poisoning*; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008658:Inactivation, Metabolic; D015994:Incidence; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D009270:Naloxone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018671:Needle-Exchange Programs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D016320:Substance Abuse Treatment Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D009270:Naloxone; D002047:Buprenorphine; D003932:Heroin; D008691:Methadone