TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2017//
TI  - Young people who use drugs engaged in harm reduction programs in New York City: overdose and other risks
JO  - Drug and alcohol dependence
A1  - Calvo, Michele
A1  - MacFarlane, Jessica
A1  - Zaccaro, Heather
A1  - Curtis, Matthew
A1  - Cabán, María
A1  - Favaro, Jamie
A1  - Passannante, Marian R.
A1  - Frost, Taeko
SP  - 106
EP  - 114
VL  - 178
IS  - 
N2  - BACKGROUND: Little is known about the engagement of young people who use drugs (PWUD) in harm reduction programs (HRPs), and few studies have included non-opioid users and non-injectors. While HRPs have effectively engaged PWUD, young people are under-represented in their services. <br><br>METHODS: The Injection Drug Users Health Alliance Citywide Study (IDUCS) is the largest community-based study of PWUD in HRPs in the US. From 2014-2015, 2421 HRP participants across New York City (NYC) completed a cross-sectional survey. We investigated differences in socio-demographics, service utilization, and risk behaviors between young (aged 18-30) and older participants and examined factors associated with overdose among young participants. <br><br>RESULTS: The study included 257 young participants. They were significantly more likely than older participants to be white, educated, uninsured, unstably housed or homeless, and have a history of incarceration and residential drug treatment. They were more likely to report recent overdose but less likely to report knowledge of naloxone. Young participants also had higher rates of alcohol, marijuana, benzodiazepine, and injection drug use, and related risk behaviors such as public injection. Factors associated with past year overdose among young participants included experiencing symptoms of psychological distress (AOR=9.71), being unstably housed or homeless (AOR=4.39), and utilizing detox (AOR=4.20). <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: Young PWUD who access services at HRPs in NYC differ significantly from their older counterparts. New York City and other urban centers that attract young PWUD should consider implementing harm reduction oriented services tailored to the unique needs of young people.<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.2017.04.032
ID  - ref1
ER  -