Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2015 Sep 1:154:283-6.
doi: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2015.06.023. Epub 2015 Jun 24.

High uptake of naloxone-based overdose prevention training among previously incarcerated syringe-exchange program participants

Joshua A Barocas  1 , Lisa Baker  2 , Shawnika J Hull  3 , Scott Stokes  4 , Ryan P Westergaard  5
Affiliations

High uptake of naloxone-based overdose prevention training among previously incarcerated syringe-exchange program participants

Joshua A Barocas et al. Drug Alcohol Depend. .

Abstract

Background: Incarceration is common among people who inject drugs. Prior research has shown that incarceration is a marker of elevated risk for opioid overdose, suggesting that the criminal justice system may be an important, under-utilized venue for implementing overdose prevention strategies. To better understand the feasibility and acceptability of such strategies, we evaluated the utilization of naloxone-based overdose prevention training among people who inject drugs with and without a history of incarceration.

Methods: We surveyed clients who utilize a multi-site syringe exchange program (SEP) in 2 cities in the Midwestern United States. Participants completed an 88-item, computerized survey assessing history of incarceration, consequences associated with injection, injecting practices, and uptake of harm reduction strategies.

Results: Among 543 respondents who injected drugs in the prior 30 days, 243 (43%) reported prior incarceration. Comparing those with and without a history of incarceration, there were no significant differences with respect to age, gender, or race. Those who observed an overdose, experienced overdose, and received training to administer or have administered naloxone were more likely to report incarceration. Overall, 69% of previously incarcerated clients had been trained to administer naloxone.

Conclusion: People who inject drugs with a history of incarceration appear to have a higher risk of opioid overdose than those never incarcerated, and are more willing to utilize naloxone as an overdose prevention strategy. Naloxone training and distribution is an important component of comprehensive prevention services for persons with opioid use disorders. Expansion of services for persons leaving correctional facilities should be considered.

Keywords: Correctional facilities; Overdose; People who inject drugs; Risky health behaviors; Take-home naloxone.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Relative Odds of Incarceration in Prison or Jail, by Selected Overdose Variables
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Binswanger IA, Stern MF, Deyo RA, Heagerty PJ, Cheadle A, Elmore JG, Koepsell TD. Release from prison--a high risk of death for former inmates. N. Engl. J. Med. 2007;356:157–165. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Bird SM, Hutchinson SJ. Male drugs-related deaths in the fortnight after release from prison: Scotland, 1996-99. Addiction. 2003;98:185–190. - PubMed
    1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS) 2014 Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/injury/wisqars/fatal.html.
    1. DOPE Project DOPE Project: Naloxone Program Case Studies. Harm Reduction Coalition. 2015 Retrieved from http://harmreduction.org/issues/overdose-prevention/tools-best-practices...
    1. Evans JL, Tsui JI, Hahn JA, Davidson PJ, Lum PJ, Page K. Mortality among young injection drug users in San Francisco: a 10-year follow-up of the UFO study. Am. J. Epidemiol. 2012;175:302–308. - PMC - PubMed

Publication types