No evidence of compensatory drug use risk behavior among heroin users after receiving take-home naloxone.
Some fear that distribution of naloxone to persons at risk of experiencing an opioid overdose may reduce the perceived negative consequences of drug use, leading to riskier patterns of use. This study assessed whether participation in naloxone/overdose training altered drug use frequency, quantity or severity among heroin users in and out of treatment.



Clinical interviews were performed assessing patterns of heroin and other drug use prior to, and at multiple timepoints after overdose education and naloxone training. This study compared baseline drug use to that at 1 and 3months post training.



Both current heroin users (n=61) and former users in agonist maintenance (n=69) typically showed decreases in heroin and polydrug use at both 1 and 3months after training. The Addiction Severity Index drug composite score also decreased at follow up.



This analysis found no evidence of compensatory drug use following naloxone/overdose training among two groups of heroin users. These findings support the acceptance and expansion of naloxone distribution to at-risk populations and may assist in allaying concerns about the potential for unintended negative consequences on drug use.
Division on Substance Use Disorders, New York State Psychiatric Institute, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10032, USA; Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10032, USA. Electronic address: jonesje@nyspi.columbia.edu.
Jermaine D
JD
Jones
Division on Substance Use Disorders, New York State Psychiatric Institute, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10032, USA; Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10032, USA.
Aimee
A
Campbell
Division on Substance Use Disorders, New York State Psychiatric Institute, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10032, USA; Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10032, USA.
Verena E
VE
Metz
Division on Substance Use Disorders, New York State Psychiatric Institute, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10032, USA; Department of Psychiatry, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, 1051 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10032, USA.
Sandra D
SD
Comer
D062787:Drug Overdose / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D009270:Naloxone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D009270:Naloxone
Heroin; Naloxone; Opioid abuse; Overdose