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Crystal methamphetamine use associated with non-fatal overdose among a cohort of injection drug users in Vancouver
ARTICLE IN PRESS Public Health (2008) 122, 70–78
www.elsevierhealth.com/journals/pubh
Original Research
Crystal methamphetamine use associated with non-fatal overdose among a cohort of injection drug users in Vancouver Nadia Fairbairna, Evan Wooda,b, Jo-anne Stoltza, Kathy Lia, Julio Montanera,b, Thomas Kerra,b, a
British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, St. Paul’s Hospital, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC Canada, V6Z 146 b Department of Medecine, University of British Columbia, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6Z 146 Received 7 November 2005; received in revised form 7 September 2006; accepted 23 February 2007 Available online 23 July 2007
KEYWORDS Injection drug use; Non-fatal overdose; Harm reduction; Vancouver
Summary Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence and correlates of non-fatal overdose among a polysubstance-using cohort of injection drug users (IDU) in Vancouver. Study design/methods: We evaluated factors associated with non-fatal overdose among participants enrolled in the Vancouver Injection Drug Users Study (VIDUS) using univariate statistics. Self-reports of the awareness of drugs taken and drug potency, polysubstance use, and assistance received at the time of non-fatal overdose were also recorded. Results: From 1 December 2003 to 1 June 2005, 551 participants who were active injectors were followed. In total, 37 (6.7%) individuals reported experiencing a nonfatal overdose in the previous 6 months. Factors positively associated with non-fatal overdose included public injecting (odds ratio (OR) ¼ 4.74, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.35–9.37, Po0.001), crystal methamphetamine use (OR ¼ 4.11) and injection (OR ¼ 3.63), morphine injection (OR ¼ 3.55), non-injection opiate use (OR ¼ 3.30), frequent heroin injection (OR ¼ 2.28) and sex trade work (OR ¼ 2.12). Factors negatively associated with non-fatal overdose included participation in methadone maintenance therapy (OR ¼ 0.31) and injecting alone (OR ¼ 0.36). Sixty-two percent of individuals were unaware of drug potency, 64.9% of IDU were taking other drugs at the time of overdosing, with crack being the main drug (37.0%). Fiftyfour percent were assisted by ambulance personnel, 56.8% were taken to accident and emergency or hospital, 38.1% left accident and emergency or hospital before being released, and 35.1% were given Naloxone.
Corresponding author. Tel.: +1 604 8069116.
E-mail address: [email protected] (T. Kerr). 0033-3506/$ - see front matter & 2007 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of The Royal Institute of Public Health. doi:10.1016/j.puhe.2007.02.016
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Conclusion: Structural interventions are needed that seek to modify the social and contextual risks for overdose, increased access to treatment programmes, and trials of novel interventions for crystal methamphetamine users. & 2007 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of The Royal Institute of Public Health.
Introduction Illicit injection drug use is associated with an array of social and health-related harms and healthcare expenditures.1–3 A primary cause of mortality for injection drug users (IDU) is overdose, with overall rates of death attributable to overdose among IDU being 1–2% annually.4–7 High rates of non-fatal overdose have also been reported, with previous findings indicating that up to two-thirds of heroin users have experienced a non-fatal overdose at some point during their history of drug use.8,9 Nonfatal overdose is a common cause of morbidity for IDU, and can result in pulmonary conditions, muscular complications, renal failure and brain injury.8,10 This morbidity, combined with the high ambulance response and accident and emergency costs associated with frequent attendance at the scene of overdoses, underscores the human and fiscal costs of non-fatal overdose. During the 1990s, an overdose crisis developed in British Columbia that was primarily attributable to overdose events in Vancouver, a port city with access to high purity cocaine and heroin.11 At the peak of this crisis in 1998, overdose rates reached more than one overdose death per day in British Columbia.11,12 The high incidence of polysubstance use, including cocaine injection and use of diverted pharmaceuticals, characterizes the Vancouver drug-using scene and may have contributed to the high rates of fatal overdose in this setting.13,14 Polysubstance use, in particular the use of opiates in conjunction with other depressants such as alcohol and benzodiazepines, is known to increase the likelihood of overdose.10,15,16 The growing use of crystal methamphetamine also characterizes the Vancouver drug-using scene as well as many other urban settings.17,18 The pattern of intense and erratic use that often characterizes consumption of this drug may also increase the likelihood of overdose when used in conjunction with opiates.18 Although it has been recognized that Vancouver was home to an overdose crisis that led to many fatalities during the 1990s, the prevalence and correlates of non-fatal overdose in this setting remain unexplored. In addition, few investigations have been made of non-fatal overdose in settings where polysubstance use and crystal methamphe-
tamine use is prevalent. Therefore, in order to better inform appropriate public health responses, the present analyses were conducted to evaluate the prevalence of, and characteristics associated with, non-fatal overdose among a polysubstanceusing cohort of IDU in Vancouver. In addition, we sought to examine self-reported details of the overdose incident, including awareness of drug potency, whether other drugs were involved, and assistance received at the time of the most recent non-fatal overdose.
Methods Starting in May 1996, individuals who had injected illicit drugs in the previous month were recruited into the Vancouver Injection Drug Users Study (VIDUS), a prospective cohort study that has been described in detail previously.14,19 Briefly, people were eligible for VIDUS if they had injected illicit drugs at least once in the previous month, resided in the greater Vancouver region, and provided written informed consent. At baseline and semiannually, participants provide blood samples and complete an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Participants receive $20 CDN for each study visit. The questionnaire elicits demographic data as well as information about drug use, HIV risk behaviour, and drug treatment. The study has been approved by the University of British Columbia’s Research Ethics Board. The present analyses are restricted to those participants who completed a follow-up visit during the period 1 December 2003 to 1 June 2005, and reported active injection drug use during the previous 6 months. Socio-demographic and other risk characteristics considered in the analyses included age, ethnicity (Aboriginal versus other), gender, downtown eastside residence (i.e. Vancouver’s illicit drug use and HIV epicenter), homelessness, recent incarceration, sex trade work, and history of sexual abuse. Given the common use of polysubstances and the recent increase in use of crystal methamphetamine in Vancouver,17 we also sought to examine associations between non-fatal overdose and various forms of drug use. Behavioural and drug use variables, all pertaining to activities in the past 6 months,
ARTICLE IN PRESS 72 included frequent cocaine and heroin injection, speedball (heroin and cocaine) injection, morphine injection, crystal methamphetamine injection, non-injection crystal methamphetamine use, crack use, frequent alcohol use, benzodiazepine use, non-injection opiate use, public injecting, receiving help injecting, being in methadone treatment, injecting alone, and binge drug use. As in our previous work,19,20 frequent heroin injection was defined as use of the drug once or more per day, frequent alcohol use was defined as consuming more than four drinks per day, and binge drug use was defined as periods when drugs were injected more frequently than usual. Univariate statistics were used to determine factors associated with non-fatal overdose. Categorical explanatory variables were analyzed using Pearson’s Chi-square test and Fisher’s exact test, and continuous variables were analyzed using the Wilcoxon rank sum test. Variables were considered statistically significant at Po0.05. All reported P-values are two-sided. Owing to the low overall number of events, and collinearity between certain variables such as homelessness and public drug use (Po0.001), multivariate analyses were not conducted. Finally, all participants who reported non-fatal overdose in the past 6 months were asked to indicate if they were aware of (1) drugs taken before the overdose; (2) any drugs other than the substance believed responsible for the overdose; (3) the potency of drugs taken; and (4) assistance received during the overdose event.
Results A total of 551 active IDU completed a follow-up during the period from 1 December 2003 to 1 June 2005, and were eligible for this analysis. Two hundred and twenty-five (43.8%) were women, 186 (36.2%) were individuals of Aboriginal ancestry, and the median age was 39 (IQR ¼ 30–46). Among this population, 37 (6.7%) individuals reported experiencing a non-fatal overdose in the 6 months before their follow-up interview. The median number of non-fatal overdoses within this group was 1.0 (IQR ¼ 1.5). The univariate analysis of socio-demographic and other risk characteristics of study participants is shown in Table 1. As shown here, younger age (odds ratio [OR] ¼ 1.04, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01–1.09, Po0.01) and sex trade work (OR ¼ 2.12, 95% CI 1.03–4.26, P ¼ 0.03) were positively associated with non-fatal overdose. We found no evidence of association
N. Fairbairn et al. between non-fatal overdose and Aboriginal ethnicity, gender, downtown eastside residence, homelessness, recent incarceration, or history of sexual abuse. Univariate analyses of drug-use-related variables are shown in Table 2. As shown here, frequent heroin injection (OR ¼ 2.28, 95% CI 1.16–4.51, P ¼ 0.01), morphine injection (OR ¼ 3.55, 95% CI 1.73–7.31, Po0.001), crystal methamphetamine injection (OR ¼ 3.63, 95% CI 1.73–7.61, Po0.001), non-injection crystal methamphetamine use (OR ¼ 4.11, 95% CI 1.91–8.83, Po0.001), noninjection opiate use (OR ¼ 3.30, 95% CI 1.63–6.69, Po0.001), and public injecting (OR ¼ 4.74, 95% CI 2.35–9.37, Po0.001) were positively associated with non-fatal overdose. Methadone treatment (OR ¼ 0.31, 95% CI 0.13–0.71, P ¼ 0.004) and injecting alone (OR ¼ 0.36, 95% CI 0.17–0.78, P ¼ 0.007) were negatively associated with nonfatal overdose. We found no evidence of association between non-fatal overdose and frequent cocaine injection, speedball injection, crack smoking, alcohol or benzodiazepine use, receiving help injecting, and binge drug use. Self-reported details of the non-fatal overdose event are listed in Table 3. Most IDU were aware of the types of drugs taken (67.6%), but reported being unaware of the potency of these drugs (62.2%). Most of the individuals were taking more than one drug at the time of non-fatal overdose (64.9%), with crack (37.0%), alcohol (18.9%) and heroin (13.5%) being the drugs most commonly used in addition to the drug believed responsible for the overdose. Fifty-four percent were assisted by ambulance personnel, 56.8% were taken to accident and emergency or hospital, 38.1% left accident and emergency or hospital before being released, and 35.1% were given Naloxone.
Discussion In the present analysis, experiencing non-fatal overdose in the previous 6 months was reported by 6.7% of participants. Non-fatal overdose was positively associated with younger age, involvement in sex trade work, frequent heroin injection, crystal methamphetamine use (injection and noninjection), morphine injection, non-injection opiate use, and public injecting. Being in methadone treatment and injecting alone were negatively associated with non-fatal overdose. On the basis of self-reported details of the overdose incidents, only a small proportion of IDU were aware of drug potency. There was also a high incidence of polysubstance use, with crack being
ARTICLE IN PRESS Crystal methamphetamine associated with non-fatal overdose
73
Table 1 Univariate analyses of study participants’ socio-demographic characteristics stratified by those that did and did not report non-fatal overdose. Non-fatal overdose Characteristic Age (years) Median Interquartile range Aboriginal ethnicity Yes No Gender Female Male DTES residence Yes No Homelessness Yes No Recent incarcerationa Yes No Sex trade worka Yes No History of abusea,b Yes No
N (n ¼ 514; 93.3%)
Yes (n ¼ 37; 6.7%)
Unadjusted Odds ratio
(95% CI)
P-value
34 29–39
40 30–47
0.96
(0.92–0.99)
0.01
178 (34.6) 336 (65.4)
8 (21.6) 29 (78.4)
0.52
(0.23–1.16)
0.11
211 (41.1) 303 (58.9)
14 (37.8) 23 (62.2)
0.87
(0.44–1.74)
0.70
316 (61.5) 198 (38.5)
17 (45.9) 20 (54.1)
1.89
(0.96–3.70)
0.06
73 (14.2) 441 (85.8)
8 (21.6) 29 (78.4)
1.67
(0.73–3.79)
0.22
78 (15.2) 436 (84.8)
9 (24.3) 28 (75.7)
1.80
(0.82–3.95)
0.14
95 (18.5) 419(81.5)
12 (32.4) 25 (67.6)
2.12
(1.03–4.26)
0.03
6 (1.2) 508 (98.8)
2(5.4) 35 (94.6)
4.84
(0.94–24.86)
0.10
DTES, downtown eastside residence. Refers to the last 6 months at time of interview. b Fisher’s exact test P-value. a
the main secondary drug taken, and professional medical assistance was received in half of the cases (Table 3). The frequency of non-fatal overdose (6.7%) is lower than other cross-sectional studies.7,12,21 The lower prevalence of non-fatal overdose in this context may be attributable to differences in measures. In previous studies, individuals were asked to report a loss of consciousness as a result of drug use and non-fatal overdose was inferred.7,12,21 In the present study, individuals were asked directly if they suffered a non-fatal overdose. Therefore, the prevalence of non-fatal overdose observed in the present study is likely to reflect overdose events that were easily definable and probably more severe. In addition, the low rate of overdose observed here may reflect recent declines in heroin supply globally and a related decline in heroin-related harms in this setting.22 In the present study, rates of reported non-fatal overdose were the same for men and women. This
contrasts with local fatal overdose data indicating that men are at greater risk.23 Further examination of reasons why women would be just as likely to experience non-fatal overdose but less likely to experience fatal overdose is necessary. Crystal methamphetamine use (injection and non-injection) was the drug most strongly associated with overdose in this study. This finding is novel but not surprising in light of studies indicating an increase in crystal methamphetamine use in North America.18,24 One symptom of crystal methamphetamine use is insomnia and, for many individuals, use of this drug is characterized by long periods of wakefulness and intense drug use interspersed with periods of recovery.18,25 This intense pattern of crystal methamphetamine use may at times be physiologically difficult to sustain, particularly when combined with use of other drugs, which may help explain the strong association observed between crystal methamphetamine use and non-fatal overdose.
ARTICLE IN PRESS 74 Table 2
N. Fairbairn et al. Univariate analyses of study participants’ drug use by those that did and did not report non-fatal overdose Non-fatal overdose
Characteristic Frequent cocaine injection Yes No Frequent heroin injectiona Yes No Speedball injectiona Yes No Morphine injectiona Yes No Crystal meth injectiona Yes No Crystal meth usea Yes No Crack usea Yes No Frequent alcohol usea Yes No Benzodiazepine usea Yes No Non-injection opiatesa Yes No Public injectinga Yes No Received help injectinga Yes No Methadone treatmenta Yes No Inject alonea Yes No Bingeinga Yes No a
N (n ¼ 514; 93.3%)
Yes (n ¼ 37; 6.7%)
Unadjusted Odds ratio
(95% CI)
P-value
165 (52.5) 349 (67.9)
11 (29.7) 26 (70.3)
0.89
(0.43–0.85)
0.76
313 (60.9) 201 (39.1)
22 (59.5) 15 (40.5)
2.28
(1.16–4.51)
0.01
53 (25.9) 152 (74.1)
7 (33.3) 14 (66.7)
1.43
(0.55–3.74)
0.46
68 (13.2) 446 (86.8)
13 (35.1) 24 (64.9)
3.55
(1.73–7.31)
0.001
60 (11.7) 454 (88.3)
12 (32.4) 25 (67.6)
3.63
(1.73–7.61)
0.001
48 (9.3) 466 (90.7)
11 (29.7) 26 (70.3)
4.11
(1.91–8.83)
0.001
147 (71.7) 58 (28.3)
18 (85.7) 3 (14.3)
2.37
(0.67–8.34)
0.17
235 (45.7) 279 (54.3)
18 (48.6) 19 (51.4)
1.13
(0.58–2.19)
0.73
86 (16.7) 428 (83.3)
6 (16.2) 31 (83.8)
0.96
(0.39–2.38)
0.94
80 (15.6) 434 (84.4)
14 (37.8) 23 (62.2)
3.30
(1.63–6.69)
0.001
370 (72.0) 144 (28.0)
24 (64.9) 13 (35.1)
4.74
(2.35–9.37)
0.001
124 (24.1) 390 (75.9)
14 (37.8) 23 (62.2)
1.91
(0.96–3.83)
0.06
222 (43.2) 292 (56.8)
7 (18.9) 30 (81.1)
0.31
(0.13–0.71)
0.004
242 (47.1) 272 (52.9)
9 (24.3) 28 (75.7)
0.36
(0.17–0.78)
0.007
114 (22.2) 400 (77.8)
10 (27.0) 27 (73.0)
1.30
(0.61–2.76)
0.50
a
All variables refer to behaviour in the last 6 months.
Frequent heroin injection was positively associated with non-fatal overdose in the present study and is consistent with previous findings.10,26 The mechanism of heroin intoxication via suppression of
respiratory function that results in hypoxia and potentially death has been well established.27,28 The strong association between both morphine and non-injection opiate use and non-fatal overdose
ARTICLE IN PRESS Crystal methamphetamine associated with non-fatal overdose Table 3 Self-reported details of the non-fatal overdose incident Characteristic Aware of drug potency Yes No Taking other drugs at time of overdose Yes No Other drugs taken at time of overdose Crack Alcohol Heroin Cocaine Methadone Crystal methamphetamine Benzodiazepines Assistance received Assisted by ambulance personnel Taken to accident and emergency or hospital Left accident and emergency/ hospital before released (n ¼ 21) Given Naloxone
N
%
13 23
35 62
24 13
65 35
10 7 5 3 3 2 2
37 19 13 8 8 5 5
20 21
54 57
13
38
13
35
provides further support that diverted pharmaceuticals play a role in overdose locally. The association between morphine and non-fatal overdose may be in part due to the difficult route of administration. Morphine is often injected by crushing up and diluting tablets, and individuals who use this method of injection have been identified as at increased risk for harm, including increased risk for injection-related complications such as acute hand ischaemia following intra-arterial injection of narcotic tablets.29 Injection of narcotic tablets has also been observed as a risk factor for fatal overdose because injection route of administration involves near instantaneous saturation of central opiate receptors compared with more gradual saturation when taken orally.30,31 Additionally, tablets intended for oral consumption are typically of higher doses than necessary to induce the same effects via injection, further increasing risk for overdose.30,31 The observed association between non-injection opiates and non-fatal overdose indicates that non-injectable opiates are a significant factor in overdose, and that non-fatal overdose does occur with opiate consumption via nonparenteral routes. Though opiate overdose has been observed via non-injection routes,15 previous research has suggested that non-injection opiates are primarily implicated in overdose when used in
75
combination with injection drugs, indicating that these findings probably represent polysubstance use among IDU.15,30,32 Younger age was positively associated with nonfatal overdose in the present study. Although there is evidence that individuals who have been injecting for longer periods of time, typically of older age, are at increased risk for overdose,10,33–35 younger age has also been established as a predictor of non-fatal overdose.36,37 The association between sex trade work and nonfatal overdose is worrisome given that sex workers in Vancouver are known to be at heightened risk for various adverse health outcomes, including extreme violence.38 Previous studies conducted in Vancouver, indicating that sex trade workers are often frequent drug users,39,40 suggest that some IDU engage in sex work in order to support a habit of heavy drug use. This pattern of heavy drug use among sex trade workers may explain the increased risk of overdose observed in the present study. The positive association between public injecting and non-fatal overdose is not surprising given the conditions present in this context that exacerbate risk for overdose. Because individuals injecting on the street are at increased risk of confrontation with other drug users and police, they will frequently rush injections and are therefore less likely to first ‘taste’ drugs to determine strength.41 This increases the chance of injecting too much of a drug, thereby increasing the risk for overdose.41 The observed negative association between injecting alone and non-fatal overdose is surprising given the fact that individuals who inject alone are at increased risk for harm in the event of an overdose, because bystanders are unavailable to come to their aid or to summon medical interventions in the event of an overdose.10,42 This finding may be attributable to random association. The trade-off between the increased risk of overdose by injecting in public and the increased risk of fatal overdose by injecting alone has been described previously.43 Safer injection facilities (SIFs), where individuals can inject pre-obtained illicit drugs under medical supervision, are one way to address concerns regarding public injecting and injecting alone because anxiety over potential confrontations with police or street predators is reduced, and because IDU are also under supervised care in the event of an overdose. An SIF recently opened in Vancouver but the effect of this facility on overdose has not yet been evaluated. However, findings from a recent German study suggest that the establishment of SIFs can lead to decreased rates of overdose.44 Further, establishment of mobile SIFs may diminish risk for overdose for sex
ARTICLE IN PRESS 76 trade workers, who tend to work in areas on the periphery of the open drug scene. One particular form of treatment, methadone maintenance therapy, was found to be negatively associated with non-fatal overdose, supporting findings that drug treatment programmes are protective against non-fatal overdose.45–47 However, individuals may be at increased risk for overdose if re-initiating drug use after treatment. For example, one Canadian cross-sectional study found recent participation in drug treatment to be associated with an increased likelihood of non-fatal overdose.12 Educational initiatives regarding the increased risk of overdose after a period of diminished drug consumption should therefore also be implemented for individuals exiting treatment programmes or prison, because drug tolerance is likely to have decreased. Most individuals who experienced a non-fatal overdose reported polysubstance use at the time of overdose (64.5%). This is consistent with previous findings that the concomitant consumption of different drugs occurs in most overdose episodes and that ‘polydrug toxicity’ may be a more appropriate description of the toxicology of overdose.10,37,45 This may be especially relevant for crystal methamphetamine users; one study found that most individuals who use this drug use it in combination with other drugs.48 The most common secondary drug used was crack cocaine for 37.0% of individuals. Both alcohol and benzodiazepine use were also identified as secondary drugs taken at the time of non-fatal overdose, and the combination of these drugs with heroin injection has been previously identified as exacerbating risk of overdose.7,49 Educational programmes aimed at informing IDU of the risks associated with polysubstance use, particularly the dangers associated with using crack cocaine, alcohol and benzodiazepines in combination with other drugs, may therefore be beneficial. It should be noted, however, that several barriers compete with an individuals’ desire to reduce harm. A financial advantage of supplementing more costly drugs, such as heroin, with less costly drugs, such as crystal methamphetamine or diverted pharmaceuticals, may provide motivation for polysubstance use that overrides concerns about the potential harms associated with this practice.50 Unstructured days that characterize the lives of many IDU also make it difficult to monitor drug intake and ensure that only one drug is acting at any given time.50 Further, ambivalence towards death, or a desire for intense intoxication for some IDU, are other factors that should be recognized as reasons for unmonitored and heavy drug use that
N. Fairbairn et al. exacerbate risk for overdose.50 In addition to educational initiatives, further examination of social and contextual factors that influence the desire of IDU to reduce harm and increase risk for overdose is also necessary. Naloxone hydrochloride interventions have been recommended to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with overdose.9,10,51 Naloxone hydrochloride is a narcotic antagonist that reverses the effects of opiates that lead to overdose, including sedation and respiratory depression.10 Because many IDU report fear of calling an ambulance in the event of overdose, and ambulance personnel in the present study assisted only 57% of non-fatal overdose events, IDU may suffer less harm from overdose if other IDU can administer Naloxone. Advantages of Naloxone are that it has no abuse potential and it is easily administered.10 However, many IDU express concerns regarding use of Naloxone because of the extreme unpleasant withdrawal symptoms associated with it.9,51 Despite this, IDU in a study evaluating attitudes towards implementing overdose management training programmes expressed a strong desire to be trained in Naloxone administration, indicating that this emergency response intervention may indeed prove beneficial.52 Unfortunately, because Naloxone is only effective as a treatment for overdose that results from opiate use, this intervention will be ineffective for overdoses related to crystal methamphetamine use, the strongest drug predictor of non-fatal overdose in the present study. The expansion of treatment programmes and implementation of novel interventions that specifically target crystal methamphetamine users are therefore also urgently needed. The present study has several limitations. First, VIDUS is not a random sample, and therefore these findings may not generalize to other IDU population. Second, we relied on self-report items, and therefore the findings may be susceptible to socially desirable responding, which in this instance may have led to an underestimation of the rate of non-fatal overdose. Further, because individuals were asked about overdose and not the symptoms of overdose, such as a loss of consciousness, convulsions, or both, as a result of too strong drugs, some IDU may not report overdose owing to a lack of recognition that the event occurred. Third, although self-report in the present study indicated that 64.9% of individuals who experienced a nonfatal overdose were unaware of drug potency, and previous studies have suggested that changing drug purity may play a role in predicting overdose, we were unable to consider this factor in the present study. Lastly, for reasons described above,
ARTICLE IN PRESS Crystal methamphetamine associated with non-fatal overdose multivariate modelling approaches were not undertaken, although the present study would likely benefit from related qualitative work rather than additional quantitative approaches. The findings in the present study indicate that non-fatal overdose remains an important source of drug-related harm, and targeted overdose interventions should be implemented to reduce the suffering and morbidity associated with non-fatal overdose. These include educational initiatives regarding risks for overdose, particularly polysubstance and crystal methamphetamine use, the expansion of drug treatment options, structural interventions that seek to modify the social and contextual risks for overdose, and trials of novel interventions for crystal methamphetamine users.
Acknowledgements We would particularly like to thank the VIDUS participants for their willingness to participate in the study. We also thank Drs. Kevin Craib, Richard Harrigan, David Patrick, Martin Schechter, Patricia Spittal, and Mr. Will Small for their research assistance, and John Charette, Caitlin Johnston, Cody Callon, Vanessa Volkommer, Steve Kain, Kathy Churchill, Dave Isham, Nancy Laliberte, Sue Currie, Bonnie Devlin, and Peter Vann for their administrative assistance. The study was supported by the US National Institutes of Health (grant no. RO1 DAO11591-04A1) and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (MOP-67262).
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ARTICLE IN PRESS 78 29. Gouny P, Gaitz JP, Vayssairat M. Acute hand ischemia secondary to intraarterial buprenorphine injection: treatment with iloprost and dextran-40: a case report. Angiology 1999;50:605–6. 30. Kintz P. A new series of 13 buprenorphine-related deaths. Clin Biochem 2002;35:513–6. 31. Kintz P. Deaths involving buprenorphine: a compendium of French cases. Forensic Sci Int 2001;121:65–9. 32. Swift W, Maher L, Sunjic S. Transitions between routes of heroin administration: a study of Caucasian and Indochinese heroin users in south-western Sydney, Australia. Addiction 1999;94:71–82. 33. Darke S, Ross J, Zador D, Sunjic S. Heroin-related deaths in New South Wales, Australia, 1992–1996. Drug Alcohol Depend 2000;60:141–50. 34. Harlow KC. Patterns of rates of mortality from narcotics and cocaine overdose in Texas, 1976–87. Public Health Report 1990;105:455–62. 35. Ruttenber AJ, Luke JL. Heroin-related deaths: new epidemiologic insights. Science 1984;226:14–20. 36. Seal KH, Kral AH, Gee L, Moore LD, Bluthenthal RN, Lorvick J, et al. Predictors and prevention of non-fatal overdose among street-recruited injection heroin users in the San Francisco Bay Area, 1998–1999. Am J Public Health 2001;91: 1842–6. 37. Ochoa KC, Hahn JA, Seal KH, Moss AR. Overdosing among young injection drug users in San Francisco. Addict Behav 2001;26:453–60. 38. Braitstein P, Li K, Tyndall M, Spittal P, O’Shaughnessy MV, Schilder A, et al. Sexual violence among a cohort of injection drug users. Soc Sci Med 2003;57:561–9. 39. Kuyper LM, Lampinen TM, Li K, Spittal PM, Hogg RS, Schechter MT, et al. Factors associated with sex trade involvement among male participants in a prospective study of injection drug users. Sex Transm Infect 2004;80: 531–5. 40. Spittal PM, Bruneau J, Craib KJ, Miller C, Lamothe F, Weber AE, et al. Surviving the sex trade: a comparison of HIV risk behaviours among street-involved women in two Canadian cities who inject drugs. AIDS Care 2003;15:187–95.
N. Fairbairn et al. 41. Brugal MT, Barrio G, De LF, Regidor E, Royuela L, Suelves JM. Factors associated with non-fatal heroin overdose: assessing the effect of frequency and route of heroin administration. Addiction 2002;97:319–27. 42. Tobin KE, Davey MA, Latkin CA. Calling emergency medical services during drug overdose: an examination of individual, social and setting correlates. Addiction 2005;100:397–404. 43. Dovey K, Fitzgerald J, Choi Y. Safety becomes danger: dilemmas of drug-use in public space. Health Place 2001; 7:319–31. 44. Bundesministerium fur Gesundheit und Soziale Sicherung, editor. Evaluation der Arbeit von Drogenkonsumauen in der Bundesrepulik Deutschland. Baden-Baden: Nomos; 2003. 45. Darke S, Ross J, Hall W. Overdose among heroin users in Sydney, Australia: II. responses to overdose. Addiction 1996;91:413–7. 46. Davoli M, Perucci CA, Forastiere F, Doyle P, Rapiti E, Zaccarelli M, et al. Risk factors for overdose mortality: a case-control study within a cohort of intravenous drug users. Int J Epidemiol 1993;22:273–7. 47. van Ameijden EJ, Langendam MW, Coutinho RA. Dose-effect relationship between overdose mortality and prescribed methadone dosage in low-threshold maintenance programs. Addict Behav 1999;24:559–63. 48. Patterson TL, Semple SJ, Zians JK, Strathdee SA. Methamphetamine-using HIV-positive men who have sex with men: correlates of polydrug use. J Urban Health 2005;82:120–6. 49. Darke S, Zador D. Fatal heroin ‘overdose’: a review. Addiction 1997;91:1765–72. 50. Moore D. Governing street-based injecting drug users: a critique of heroin overdose prevention in Australia. Soc Sci Med 2004;59:1547–57. 51. Strang J, Darke S, Hall W, Farrell M, Ali R. Heroin overdose: the case for take-home naloxone. Br Med J 1996;312: 1435–6. 52. Seal KH, Downing M, Kral AH, Singleton-Banks S, Hammond JP, Lorvick J, et al. Attitudes about prescribing take-home naloxone to injection drug users for the management of heroin overdose: a survey of street-recruited injectors in the San Francisco Bay Area. J Urban Health 2003;80:291–301.
www.elsevierhealth.com/journals/pubh
Original Research
Crystal methamphetamine use associated with non-fatal overdose among a cohort of injection drug users in Vancouver Nadia Fairbairna, Evan Wooda,b, Jo-anne Stoltza, Kathy Lia, Julio Montanera,b, Thomas Kerra,b, a
British Columbia Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, St. Paul’s Hospital, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC Canada, V6Z 146 b Department of Medecine, University of British Columbia, 608-1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6Z 146 Received 7 November 2005; received in revised form 7 September 2006; accepted 23 February 2007 Available online 23 July 2007
KEYWORDS Injection drug use; Non-fatal overdose; Harm reduction; Vancouver
Summary Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence and correlates of non-fatal overdose among a polysubstance-using cohort of injection drug users (IDU) in Vancouver. Study design/methods: We evaluated factors associated with non-fatal overdose among participants enrolled in the Vancouver Injection Drug Users Study (VIDUS) using univariate statistics. Self-reports of the awareness of drugs taken and drug potency, polysubstance use, and assistance received at the time of non-fatal overdose were also recorded. Results: From 1 December 2003 to 1 June 2005, 551 participants who were active injectors were followed. In total, 37 (6.7%) individuals reported experiencing a nonfatal overdose in the previous 6 months. Factors positively associated with non-fatal overdose included public injecting (odds ratio (OR) ¼ 4.74, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.35–9.37, Po0.001), crystal methamphetamine use (OR ¼ 4.11) and injection (OR ¼ 3.63), morphine injection (OR ¼ 3.55), non-injection opiate use (OR ¼ 3.30), frequent heroin injection (OR ¼ 2.28) and sex trade work (OR ¼ 2.12). Factors negatively associated with non-fatal overdose included participation in methadone maintenance therapy (OR ¼ 0.31) and injecting alone (OR ¼ 0.36). Sixty-two percent of individuals were unaware of drug potency, 64.9% of IDU were taking other drugs at the time of overdosing, with crack being the main drug (37.0%). Fiftyfour percent were assisted by ambulance personnel, 56.8% were taken to accident and emergency or hospital, 38.1% left accident and emergency or hospital before being released, and 35.1% were given Naloxone.
Corresponding author. Tel.: +1 604 8069116.
E-mail address: [email protected] (T. Kerr). 0033-3506/$ - see front matter & 2007 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of The Royal Institute of Public Health. doi:10.1016/j.puhe.2007.02.016
ARTICLE IN PRESS Crystal methamphetamine associated with non-fatal overdose
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Conclusion: Structural interventions are needed that seek to modify the social and contextual risks for overdose, increased access to treatment programmes, and trials of novel interventions for crystal methamphetamine users. & 2007 Published by Elsevier Ltd on behalf of The Royal Institute of Public Health.
Introduction Illicit injection drug use is associated with an array of social and health-related harms and healthcare expenditures.1–3 A primary cause of mortality for injection drug users (IDU) is overdose, with overall rates of death attributable to overdose among IDU being 1–2% annually.4–7 High rates of non-fatal overdose have also been reported, with previous findings indicating that up to two-thirds of heroin users have experienced a non-fatal overdose at some point during their history of drug use.8,9 Nonfatal overdose is a common cause of morbidity for IDU, and can result in pulmonary conditions, muscular complications, renal failure and brain injury.8,10 This morbidity, combined with the high ambulance response and accident and emergency costs associated with frequent attendance at the scene of overdoses, underscores the human and fiscal costs of non-fatal overdose. During the 1990s, an overdose crisis developed in British Columbia that was primarily attributable to overdose events in Vancouver, a port city with access to high purity cocaine and heroin.11 At the peak of this crisis in 1998, overdose rates reached more than one overdose death per day in British Columbia.11,12 The high incidence of polysubstance use, including cocaine injection and use of diverted pharmaceuticals, characterizes the Vancouver drug-using scene and may have contributed to the high rates of fatal overdose in this setting.13,14 Polysubstance use, in particular the use of opiates in conjunction with other depressants such as alcohol and benzodiazepines, is known to increase the likelihood of overdose.10,15,16 The growing use of crystal methamphetamine also characterizes the Vancouver drug-using scene as well as many other urban settings.17,18 The pattern of intense and erratic use that often characterizes consumption of this drug may also increase the likelihood of overdose when used in conjunction with opiates.18 Although it has been recognized that Vancouver was home to an overdose crisis that led to many fatalities during the 1990s, the prevalence and correlates of non-fatal overdose in this setting remain unexplored. In addition, few investigations have been made of non-fatal overdose in settings where polysubstance use and crystal methamphe-
tamine use is prevalent. Therefore, in order to better inform appropriate public health responses, the present analyses were conducted to evaluate the prevalence of, and characteristics associated with, non-fatal overdose among a polysubstanceusing cohort of IDU in Vancouver. In addition, we sought to examine self-reported details of the overdose incident, including awareness of drug potency, whether other drugs were involved, and assistance received at the time of the most recent non-fatal overdose.
Methods Starting in May 1996, individuals who had injected illicit drugs in the previous month were recruited into the Vancouver Injection Drug Users Study (VIDUS), a prospective cohort study that has been described in detail previously.14,19 Briefly, people were eligible for VIDUS if they had injected illicit drugs at least once in the previous month, resided in the greater Vancouver region, and provided written informed consent. At baseline and semiannually, participants provide blood samples and complete an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Participants receive $20 CDN for each study visit. The questionnaire elicits demographic data as well as information about drug use, HIV risk behaviour, and drug treatment. The study has been approved by the University of British Columbia’s Research Ethics Board. The present analyses are restricted to those participants who completed a follow-up visit during the period 1 December 2003 to 1 June 2005, and reported active injection drug use during the previous 6 months. Socio-demographic and other risk characteristics considered in the analyses included age, ethnicity (Aboriginal versus other), gender, downtown eastside residence (i.e. Vancouver’s illicit drug use and HIV epicenter), homelessness, recent incarceration, sex trade work, and history of sexual abuse. Given the common use of polysubstances and the recent increase in use of crystal methamphetamine in Vancouver,17 we also sought to examine associations between non-fatal overdose and various forms of drug use. Behavioural and drug use variables, all pertaining to activities in the past 6 months,
ARTICLE IN PRESS 72 included frequent cocaine and heroin injection, speedball (heroin and cocaine) injection, morphine injection, crystal methamphetamine injection, non-injection crystal methamphetamine use, crack use, frequent alcohol use, benzodiazepine use, non-injection opiate use, public injecting, receiving help injecting, being in methadone treatment, injecting alone, and binge drug use. As in our previous work,19,20 frequent heroin injection was defined as use of the drug once or more per day, frequent alcohol use was defined as consuming more than four drinks per day, and binge drug use was defined as periods when drugs were injected more frequently than usual. Univariate statistics were used to determine factors associated with non-fatal overdose. Categorical explanatory variables were analyzed using Pearson’s Chi-square test and Fisher’s exact test, and continuous variables were analyzed using the Wilcoxon rank sum test. Variables were considered statistically significant at Po0.05. All reported P-values are two-sided. Owing to the low overall number of events, and collinearity between certain variables such as homelessness and public drug use (Po0.001), multivariate analyses were not conducted. Finally, all participants who reported non-fatal overdose in the past 6 months were asked to indicate if they were aware of (1) drugs taken before the overdose; (2) any drugs other than the substance believed responsible for the overdose; (3) the potency of drugs taken; and (4) assistance received during the overdose event.
Results A total of 551 active IDU completed a follow-up during the period from 1 December 2003 to 1 June 2005, and were eligible for this analysis. Two hundred and twenty-five (43.8%) were women, 186 (36.2%) were individuals of Aboriginal ancestry, and the median age was 39 (IQR ¼ 30–46). Among this population, 37 (6.7%) individuals reported experiencing a non-fatal overdose in the 6 months before their follow-up interview. The median number of non-fatal overdoses within this group was 1.0 (IQR ¼ 1.5). The univariate analysis of socio-demographic and other risk characteristics of study participants is shown in Table 1. As shown here, younger age (odds ratio [OR] ¼ 1.04, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01–1.09, Po0.01) and sex trade work (OR ¼ 2.12, 95% CI 1.03–4.26, P ¼ 0.03) were positively associated with non-fatal overdose. We found no evidence of association
N. Fairbairn et al. between non-fatal overdose and Aboriginal ethnicity, gender, downtown eastside residence, homelessness, recent incarceration, or history of sexual abuse. Univariate analyses of drug-use-related variables are shown in Table 2. As shown here, frequent heroin injection (OR ¼ 2.28, 95% CI 1.16–4.51, P ¼ 0.01), morphine injection (OR ¼ 3.55, 95% CI 1.73–7.31, Po0.001), crystal methamphetamine injection (OR ¼ 3.63, 95% CI 1.73–7.61, Po0.001), non-injection crystal methamphetamine use (OR ¼ 4.11, 95% CI 1.91–8.83, Po0.001), noninjection opiate use (OR ¼ 3.30, 95% CI 1.63–6.69, Po0.001), and public injecting (OR ¼ 4.74, 95% CI 2.35–9.37, Po0.001) were positively associated with non-fatal overdose. Methadone treatment (OR ¼ 0.31, 95% CI 0.13–0.71, P ¼ 0.004) and injecting alone (OR ¼ 0.36, 95% CI 0.17–0.78, P ¼ 0.007) were negatively associated with nonfatal overdose. We found no evidence of association between non-fatal overdose and frequent cocaine injection, speedball injection, crack smoking, alcohol or benzodiazepine use, receiving help injecting, and binge drug use. Self-reported details of the non-fatal overdose event are listed in Table 3. Most IDU were aware of the types of drugs taken (67.6%), but reported being unaware of the potency of these drugs (62.2%). Most of the individuals were taking more than one drug at the time of non-fatal overdose (64.9%), with crack (37.0%), alcohol (18.9%) and heroin (13.5%) being the drugs most commonly used in addition to the drug believed responsible for the overdose. Fifty-four percent were assisted by ambulance personnel, 56.8% were taken to accident and emergency or hospital, 38.1% left accident and emergency or hospital before being released, and 35.1% were given Naloxone.
Discussion In the present analysis, experiencing non-fatal overdose in the previous 6 months was reported by 6.7% of participants. Non-fatal overdose was positively associated with younger age, involvement in sex trade work, frequent heroin injection, crystal methamphetamine use (injection and noninjection), morphine injection, non-injection opiate use, and public injecting. Being in methadone treatment and injecting alone were negatively associated with non-fatal overdose. On the basis of self-reported details of the overdose incidents, only a small proportion of IDU were aware of drug potency. There was also a high incidence of polysubstance use, with crack being
ARTICLE IN PRESS Crystal methamphetamine associated with non-fatal overdose
73
Table 1 Univariate analyses of study participants’ socio-demographic characteristics stratified by those that did and did not report non-fatal overdose. Non-fatal overdose Characteristic Age (years) Median Interquartile range Aboriginal ethnicity Yes No Gender Female Male DTES residence Yes No Homelessness Yes No Recent incarcerationa Yes No Sex trade worka Yes No History of abusea,b Yes No
N (n ¼ 514; 93.3%)
Yes (n ¼ 37; 6.7%)
Unadjusted Odds ratio
(95% CI)
P-value
34 29–39
40 30–47
0.96
(0.92–0.99)
0.01
178 (34.6) 336 (65.4)
8 (21.6) 29 (78.4)
0.52
(0.23–1.16)
0.11
211 (41.1) 303 (58.9)
14 (37.8) 23 (62.2)
0.87
(0.44–1.74)
0.70
316 (61.5) 198 (38.5)
17 (45.9) 20 (54.1)
1.89
(0.96–3.70)
0.06
73 (14.2) 441 (85.8)
8 (21.6) 29 (78.4)
1.67
(0.73–3.79)
0.22
78 (15.2) 436 (84.8)
9 (24.3) 28 (75.7)
1.80
(0.82–3.95)
0.14
95 (18.5) 419(81.5)
12 (32.4) 25 (67.6)
2.12
(1.03–4.26)
0.03
6 (1.2) 508 (98.8)
2(5.4) 35 (94.6)
4.84
(0.94–24.86)
0.10
DTES, downtown eastside residence. Refers to the last 6 months at time of interview. b Fisher’s exact test P-value. a
the main secondary drug taken, and professional medical assistance was received in half of the cases (Table 3). The frequency of non-fatal overdose (6.7%) is lower than other cross-sectional studies.7,12,21 The lower prevalence of non-fatal overdose in this context may be attributable to differences in measures. In previous studies, individuals were asked to report a loss of consciousness as a result of drug use and non-fatal overdose was inferred.7,12,21 In the present study, individuals were asked directly if they suffered a non-fatal overdose. Therefore, the prevalence of non-fatal overdose observed in the present study is likely to reflect overdose events that were easily definable and probably more severe. In addition, the low rate of overdose observed here may reflect recent declines in heroin supply globally and a related decline in heroin-related harms in this setting.22 In the present study, rates of reported non-fatal overdose were the same for men and women. This
contrasts with local fatal overdose data indicating that men are at greater risk.23 Further examination of reasons why women would be just as likely to experience non-fatal overdose but less likely to experience fatal overdose is necessary. Crystal methamphetamine use (injection and non-injection) was the drug most strongly associated with overdose in this study. This finding is novel but not surprising in light of studies indicating an increase in crystal methamphetamine use in North America.18,24 One symptom of crystal methamphetamine use is insomnia and, for many individuals, use of this drug is characterized by long periods of wakefulness and intense drug use interspersed with periods of recovery.18,25 This intense pattern of crystal methamphetamine use may at times be physiologically difficult to sustain, particularly when combined with use of other drugs, which may help explain the strong association observed between crystal methamphetamine use and non-fatal overdose.
ARTICLE IN PRESS 74 Table 2
N. Fairbairn et al. Univariate analyses of study participants’ drug use by those that did and did not report non-fatal overdose Non-fatal overdose
Characteristic Frequent cocaine injection Yes No Frequent heroin injectiona Yes No Speedball injectiona Yes No Morphine injectiona Yes No Crystal meth injectiona Yes No Crystal meth usea Yes No Crack usea Yes No Frequent alcohol usea Yes No Benzodiazepine usea Yes No Non-injection opiatesa Yes No Public injectinga Yes No Received help injectinga Yes No Methadone treatmenta Yes No Inject alonea Yes No Bingeinga Yes No a
N (n ¼ 514; 93.3%)
Yes (n ¼ 37; 6.7%)
Unadjusted Odds ratio
(95% CI)
P-value
165 (52.5) 349 (67.9)
11 (29.7) 26 (70.3)
0.89
(0.43–0.85)
0.76
313 (60.9) 201 (39.1)
22 (59.5) 15 (40.5)
2.28
(1.16–4.51)
0.01
53 (25.9) 152 (74.1)
7 (33.3) 14 (66.7)
1.43
(0.55–3.74)
0.46
68 (13.2) 446 (86.8)
13 (35.1) 24 (64.9)
3.55
(1.73–7.31)
0.001
60 (11.7) 454 (88.3)
12 (32.4) 25 (67.6)
3.63
(1.73–7.61)
0.001
48 (9.3) 466 (90.7)
11 (29.7) 26 (70.3)
4.11
(1.91–8.83)
0.001
147 (71.7) 58 (28.3)
18 (85.7) 3 (14.3)
2.37
(0.67–8.34)
0.17
235 (45.7) 279 (54.3)
18 (48.6) 19 (51.4)
1.13
(0.58–2.19)
0.73
86 (16.7) 428 (83.3)
6 (16.2) 31 (83.8)
0.96
(0.39–2.38)
0.94
80 (15.6) 434 (84.4)
14 (37.8) 23 (62.2)
3.30
(1.63–6.69)
0.001
370 (72.0) 144 (28.0)
24 (64.9) 13 (35.1)
4.74
(2.35–9.37)
0.001
124 (24.1) 390 (75.9)
14 (37.8) 23 (62.2)
1.91
(0.96–3.83)
0.06
222 (43.2) 292 (56.8)
7 (18.9) 30 (81.1)
0.31
(0.13–0.71)
0.004
242 (47.1) 272 (52.9)
9 (24.3) 28 (75.7)
0.36
(0.17–0.78)
0.007
114 (22.2) 400 (77.8)
10 (27.0) 27 (73.0)
1.30
(0.61–2.76)
0.50
a
All variables refer to behaviour in the last 6 months.
Frequent heroin injection was positively associated with non-fatal overdose in the present study and is consistent with previous findings.10,26 The mechanism of heroin intoxication via suppression of
respiratory function that results in hypoxia and potentially death has been well established.27,28 The strong association between both morphine and non-injection opiate use and non-fatal overdose
ARTICLE IN PRESS Crystal methamphetamine associated with non-fatal overdose Table 3 Self-reported details of the non-fatal overdose incident Characteristic Aware of drug potency Yes No Taking other drugs at time of overdose Yes No Other drugs taken at time of overdose Crack Alcohol Heroin Cocaine Methadone Crystal methamphetamine Benzodiazepines Assistance received Assisted by ambulance personnel Taken to accident and emergency or hospital Left accident and emergency/ hospital before released (n ¼ 21) Given Naloxone
N
%
13 23
35 62
24 13
65 35
10 7 5 3 3 2 2
37 19 13 8 8 5 5
20 21
54 57
13
38
13
35
provides further support that diverted pharmaceuticals play a role in overdose locally. The association between morphine and non-fatal overdose may be in part due to the difficult route of administration. Morphine is often injected by crushing up and diluting tablets, and individuals who use this method of injection have been identified as at increased risk for harm, including increased risk for injection-related complications such as acute hand ischaemia following intra-arterial injection of narcotic tablets.29 Injection of narcotic tablets has also been observed as a risk factor for fatal overdose because injection route of administration involves near instantaneous saturation of central opiate receptors compared with more gradual saturation when taken orally.30,31 Additionally, tablets intended for oral consumption are typically of higher doses than necessary to induce the same effects via injection, further increasing risk for overdose.30,31 The observed association between non-injection opiates and non-fatal overdose indicates that non-injectable opiates are a significant factor in overdose, and that non-fatal overdose does occur with opiate consumption via nonparenteral routes. Though opiate overdose has been observed via non-injection routes,15 previous research has suggested that non-injection opiates are primarily implicated in overdose when used in
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combination with injection drugs, indicating that these findings probably represent polysubstance use among IDU.15,30,32 Younger age was positively associated with nonfatal overdose in the present study. Although there is evidence that individuals who have been injecting for longer periods of time, typically of older age, are at increased risk for overdose,10,33–35 younger age has also been established as a predictor of non-fatal overdose.36,37 The association between sex trade work and nonfatal overdose is worrisome given that sex workers in Vancouver are known to be at heightened risk for various adverse health outcomes, including extreme violence.38 Previous studies conducted in Vancouver, indicating that sex trade workers are often frequent drug users,39,40 suggest that some IDU engage in sex work in order to support a habit of heavy drug use. This pattern of heavy drug use among sex trade workers may explain the increased risk of overdose observed in the present study. The positive association between public injecting and non-fatal overdose is not surprising given the conditions present in this context that exacerbate risk for overdose. Because individuals injecting on the street are at increased risk of confrontation with other drug users and police, they will frequently rush injections and are therefore less likely to first ‘taste’ drugs to determine strength.41 This increases the chance of injecting too much of a drug, thereby increasing the risk for overdose.41 The observed negative association between injecting alone and non-fatal overdose is surprising given the fact that individuals who inject alone are at increased risk for harm in the event of an overdose, because bystanders are unavailable to come to their aid or to summon medical interventions in the event of an overdose.10,42 This finding may be attributable to random association. The trade-off between the increased risk of overdose by injecting in public and the increased risk of fatal overdose by injecting alone has been described previously.43 Safer injection facilities (SIFs), where individuals can inject pre-obtained illicit drugs under medical supervision, are one way to address concerns regarding public injecting and injecting alone because anxiety over potential confrontations with police or street predators is reduced, and because IDU are also under supervised care in the event of an overdose. An SIF recently opened in Vancouver but the effect of this facility on overdose has not yet been evaluated. However, findings from a recent German study suggest that the establishment of SIFs can lead to decreased rates of overdose.44 Further, establishment of mobile SIFs may diminish risk for overdose for sex
ARTICLE IN PRESS 76 trade workers, who tend to work in areas on the periphery of the open drug scene. One particular form of treatment, methadone maintenance therapy, was found to be negatively associated with non-fatal overdose, supporting findings that drug treatment programmes are protective against non-fatal overdose.45–47 However, individuals may be at increased risk for overdose if re-initiating drug use after treatment. For example, one Canadian cross-sectional study found recent participation in drug treatment to be associated with an increased likelihood of non-fatal overdose.12 Educational initiatives regarding the increased risk of overdose after a period of diminished drug consumption should therefore also be implemented for individuals exiting treatment programmes or prison, because drug tolerance is likely to have decreased. Most individuals who experienced a non-fatal overdose reported polysubstance use at the time of overdose (64.5%). This is consistent with previous findings that the concomitant consumption of different drugs occurs in most overdose episodes and that ‘polydrug toxicity’ may be a more appropriate description of the toxicology of overdose.10,37,45 This may be especially relevant for crystal methamphetamine users; one study found that most individuals who use this drug use it in combination with other drugs.48 The most common secondary drug used was crack cocaine for 37.0% of individuals. Both alcohol and benzodiazepine use were also identified as secondary drugs taken at the time of non-fatal overdose, and the combination of these drugs with heroin injection has been previously identified as exacerbating risk of overdose.7,49 Educational programmes aimed at informing IDU of the risks associated with polysubstance use, particularly the dangers associated with using crack cocaine, alcohol and benzodiazepines in combination with other drugs, may therefore be beneficial. It should be noted, however, that several barriers compete with an individuals’ desire to reduce harm. A financial advantage of supplementing more costly drugs, such as heroin, with less costly drugs, such as crystal methamphetamine or diverted pharmaceuticals, may provide motivation for polysubstance use that overrides concerns about the potential harms associated with this practice.50 Unstructured days that characterize the lives of many IDU also make it difficult to monitor drug intake and ensure that only one drug is acting at any given time.50 Further, ambivalence towards death, or a desire for intense intoxication for some IDU, are other factors that should be recognized as reasons for unmonitored and heavy drug use that
N. Fairbairn et al. exacerbate risk for overdose.50 In addition to educational initiatives, further examination of social and contextual factors that influence the desire of IDU to reduce harm and increase risk for overdose is also necessary. Naloxone hydrochloride interventions have been recommended to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with overdose.9,10,51 Naloxone hydrochloride is a narcotic antagonist that reverses the effects of opiates that lead to overdose, including sedation and respiratory depression.10 Because many IDU report fear of calling an ambulance in the event of overdose, and ambulance personnel in the present study assisted only 57% of non-fatal overdose events, IDU may suffer less harm from overdose if other IDU can administer Naloxone. Advantages of Naloxone are that it has no abuse potential and it is easily administered.10 However, many IDU express concerns regarding use of Naloxone because of the extreme unpleasant withdrawal symptoms associated with it.9,51 Despite this, IDU in a study evaluating attitudes towards implementing overdose management training programmes expressed a strong desire to be trained in Naloxone administration, indicating that this emergency response intervention may indeed prove beneficial.52 Unfortunately, because Naloxone is only effective as a treatment for overdose that results from opiate use, this intervention will be ineffective for overdoses related to crystal methamphetamine use, the strongest drug predictor of non-fatal overdose in the present study. The expansion of treatment programmes and implementation of novel interventions that specifically target crystal methamphetamine users are therefore also urgently needed. The present study has several limitations. First, VIDUS is not a random sample, and therefore these findings may not generalize to other IDU population. Second, we relied on self-report items, and therefore the findings may be susceptible to socially desirable responding, which in this instance may have led to an underestimation of the rate of non-fatal overdose. Further, because individuals were asked about overdose and not the symptoms of overdose, such as a loss of consciousness, convulsions, or both, as a result of too strong drugs, some IDU may not report overdose owing to a lack of recognition that the event occurred. Third, although self-report in the present study indicated that 64.9% of individuals who experienced a nonfatal overdose were unaware of drug potency, and previous studies have suggested that changing drug purity may play a role in predicting overdose, we were unable to consider this factor in the present study. Lastly, for reasons described above,
ARTICLE IN PRESS Crystal methamphetamine associated with non-fatal overdose multivariate modelling approaches were not undertaken, although the present study would likely benefit from related qualitative work rather than additional quantitative approaches. The findings in the present study indicate that non-fatal overdose remains an important source of drug-related harm, and targeted overdose interventions should be implemented to reduce the suffering and morbidity associated with non-fatal overdose. These include educational initiatives regarding risks for overdose, particularly polysubstance and crystal methamphetamine use, the expansion of drug treatment options, structural interventions that seek to modify the social and contextual risks for overdose, and trials of novel interventions for crystal methamphetamine users.
Acknowledgements We would particularly like to thank the VIDUS participants for their willingness to participate in the study. We also thank Drs. Kevin Craib, Richard Harrigan, David Patrick, Martin Schechter, Patricia Spittal, and Mr. Will Small for their research assistance, and John Charette, Caitlin Johnston, Cody Callon, Vanessa Volkommer, Steve Kain, Kathy Churchill, Dave Isham, Nancy Laliberte, Sue Currie, Bonnie Devlin, and Peter Vann for their administrative assistance. The study was supported by the US National Institutes of Health (grant no. RO1 DAO11591-04A1) and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (MOP-67262).
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