NCJ Number
196043
Journal
Addiction Volume: 97 Issue: 3 Dated: March 2002 Pages: 319-327
Editor(s)
Susan Savva
Date Published
March 2002
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This study examined the effect of frequency and route of heroin administration on the occurrence of non-fatal heroin overdose in Spain.
Abstract
Prior research has shown that acute heroin overdose is a major cause of death and demand for emergency care among heroin users. Yet, many non-fatal heroin overdoses do not result in the need for medical attention. Several factors have been associated with the increased probability of both fatal and non-fatal heroin overdoses: heroin use by injection, use with other central nervous system depressants, use following a period of abstinence, and not being in methadone treatment. Clarification in the implications of these factors is critical, specifically the route of administration and frequency. This study attempted to clarify the relationship between the risk of overdose and the frequency and route of heroin administration. This study used data from the 1996 Survey of Heroin Users in Treatment. The data sample consisted of 2,256 people admitted to treatment for heroin dependency in Spain during 1996. Data were analyzed as a case-control design. Study findings included: (1) the cumulative risk of heroin overdose in a given period increased as the frequency of heroin use decreased; (2) the risk of overdose was several times greater among heroin injectors than non-injectors; (3) the risk increased with increasing usual frequency of injection among daily users, but not non-daily users; (4) the estimated relative risk (RR) of injecting heroin immediately before overdose versus another route of administration was very high; and (5) among non-daily heroin users the overdose risk of sniffers was significantly higher than that of smokers, with no difference among daily users. The main study limitation identified was in the cross-sectional design. References