Citation

Tormohlen KN, Tobin KE, Davey-Rothwell MA, Latkin C. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2019; 201: 142-146.

Affiliation

Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N. Broadway, Room 737, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. Electronic address: carl.latkin@jhu.edu.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2019.03.028

PMID

31212214

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Evaluations of overdose response programs suggest effectiveness in preventing overdose-related death and individual willingness to respond to an overdose. However, knowledge of and confidence in performing response behaviors is necessary for individuals to intervene. This study assessed overdose responding self-efficacy among adults who reported lifetime opioid use.

METHODS: Data come from a cross-sectional survey, part of a randomized controlled trial designed for adults living with hepatitis C. Participants were 18 years old or older, and reported lifetime opioid use. Overdose responding self-efficacy was assessed by perceived knowledge and/or need for additional training to have confidence responding to an overdose. Univariate statistics were calculated for overdose responding self-efficacy, and individual characteristics and experiences. Adjusted logistic regression was used to identify variables associated with low overdose responding self-efficacy.

RESULTS: Of the 424 participants, 67.2% reported low overdose responding self-efficacy. Sixty percent witnessed and 30.4% experienced an overdose in the past year. Witnessing an overdose in the past year, experience with naloxone training, and receiving and using naloxone were associated with high overdose responding self-efficacy. While, apprehension with particular response behaviors (e.g. rescue breathing) was associated with low overdose responding self-efficacy.

CONCLUSIONS: A large proportion of adults who reported lifetime opioid use did not feel confident or knowledgeable responding to an overdose. This could be influenced by overdose exposure, specific response behaviors, and response trainings.

Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Language: en

Keywords

Injection drug use; Naloxone; Opioid use; Overdose; Overdose response; Overdose response training; Self-efficacy