TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2017//
TI  - Frequency and severity of non-fatal opioid overdoses among clients attending the Sydney Medically Supervised Injecting Centre
JO  - Drug and alcohol dependence
A1  - Roxburgh, Amanda
A1  - Darke, Shane
A1  - Salmon, Allison M.
A1  - Dobbins, Timothy
A1  - Jauncey, Marianne
SP  - 126
EP  - 132
VL  - 176
IS  - 
N2  - BACKGROUND: Pharmaceutical opioid overdose rates have increased in recent years. The current study aimed to compare rates per 1000 injections of non-fatal overdose after heroin or oxycodone injection, and their comparative clinical severity. <br><br>METHODS: Analysis of prospectively collected data from the Sydney Medically Supervised Injecting Centre (MSIC). Severity of overdose was measured using the Glasgow Coma Scale, oxygen saturation levels, and the administration of naloxone. <br><br>RESULTS: Heroin overdoses occurred at three times the rate of oxycodone overdoses (12.7 v 4.1 per 1000 injections). Heroin overdoses appeared to be more severe than oxycodone overdoses, with higher levels of compromised consciousness (31 v 18%) and severe respiratory depression (67 v 48%), but there were no differences in naloxone doses (20 v 17%). Concurrent use of other depressants at the time of overdose was also associated with compromised consciousness, and the need for naloxone. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Heroin overdoses occurred at a greater rate than oxycodone overdoses, and had more severe clinical indicators.<br><br>Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0376-8716
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2017.02.027
ID  - ref1
ER  -