Abstract
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.
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This research was funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council, and the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing. The authors wish to thank all participating agencies.
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Darke, Williamson, Ross, Mills, Harvard, and Teesson are with the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
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Darke, S., Williamson, A., Ross, J. et al. Patterns of Nonfatal Heroin Overdose Over a 3-Year Period: Findings From the Australian Treatment Outcome Study. J Urban Health 84, 283–291 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11524-006-9156-0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11524-006-9156-0