TY - JOUR
KW - Adult
KW - Drug Overdose/drug therapy/mortality
KW - Emergency Treatment/methods
KW - Female
KW - Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
KW - Humans
KW - Male
KW - Middle Aged
KW - Naloxone/therapeutic use
KW - Narcotic Antagonists/therapeutic use
KW - Narcotics/poisoning
KW - Opioid-Related Disorders/rehabilitation
KW - Preventive Health Services/standards
KW - Program Evaluation
KW - Prospective Studies
AU - J. Strang
AU - V. Manning
AU - S. Mayet
AU - D. Best
AU - E. Titherington
AU - L. Santana
AU - E. Offor
AU - C. Semmler
A1 - 
AB - AIM: To examine the impact of training in overdose management and naloxone provision on the knowledge and confidence of current opiate users; and to record subsequent management of overdoses that occur during a 3-month follow-up period. DESIGN: Repeated-measures design to examine changes in knowledge and confidence immediately after overdose management training; retention of knowledge and confidence at 3 months; and prospective cohort study design to document actual interventions applied at post-training overdose situations. METHOD: A total of 239 opiate users in treatment completed a pre-training questionnaire on overdose management and naloxone administration and were re-assessed immediately post-training, at which point they were provided with the take-home emergency supply of naloxone. Three months later they were re-interviewed. RESULTS: Significant improvements were seen in knowledge of risks of overdose, characteristics of overdose and appropriate actions to be taken; and in confidence in the administration of naloxone. A 78% follow-up rate was achieved (186 of 239) among whom knowledge of both the risks and physical/behavioural characteristics of overdose and also of recommended management actions was well retained. Eighteen overdoses (either experienced or witnessed) had occurred during the 3 months between the training and the follow-up. Naloxone was used on 12 occasions (a trained client's own supply on 10 occasions). One death occurred in one of the six overdoses where naloxone was not used. Where naloxone was used, all 12 resulted in successful reversal. CONCLUSIONS: With overdose management training, opiate users can be trained to execute appropriate actions to assist the successful reversal of potentially fatal overdose. Wider provision may reduce drug-related deaths further. Future studies should examine whether public policy of wider overdose management training and naloxone provision could reduce the extent of opiate overdose fatalities, particularly at times of recognized increased risk.
BT - Addiction (Abingdon, England)
C5 - Opioids & Substance Use
CP - 10
CY - England
DO - 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2008.02314.x
IS - 10
JF - Addiction (Abingdon, England)
N2 - AIM: To examine the impact of training in overdose management and naloxone provision on the knowledge and confidence of current opiate users; and to record subsequent management of overdoses that occur during a 3-month follow-up period. DESIGN: Repeated-measures design to examine changes in knowledge and confidence immediately after overdose management training; retention of knowledge and confidence at 3 months; and prospective cohort study design to document actual interventions applied at post-training overdose situations. METHOD: A total of 239 opiate users in treatment completed a pre-training questionnaire on overdose management and naloxone administration and were re-assessed immediately post-training, at which point they were provided with the take-home emergency supply of naloxone. Three months later they were re-interviewed. RESULTS: Significant improvements were seen in knowledge of risks of overdose, characteristics of overdose and appropriate actions to be taken; and in confidence in the administration of naloxone. A 78% follow-up rate was achieved (186 of 239) among whom knowledge of both the risks and physical/behavioural characteristics of overdose and also of recommended management actions was well retained. Eighteen overdoses (either experienced or witnessed) had occurred during the 3 months between the training and the follow-up. Naloxone was used on 12 occasions (a trained client's own supply on 10 occasions). One death occurred in one of the six overdoses where naloxone was not used. Where naloxone was used, all 12 resulted in successful reversal. CONCLUSIONS: With overdose management training, opiate users can be trained to execute appropriate actions to assist the successful reversal of potentially fatal overdose. Wider provision may reduce drug-related deaths further. Future studies should examine whether public policy of wider overdose management training and naloxone provision could reduce the extent of opiate overdose fatalities, particularly at times of recognized increased risk.
PP - England
PY - 2008
SN - 1360-0443; 0965-2140
SP - 1648
EP - 1657
EP - 
T1 - Overdose training and take-home naloxone for opiate users: prospective cohort study of impact on knowledge and attitudes and subsequent management of overdoses
T2 - Addiction (Abingdon, England)
TI - Overdose training and take-home naloxone for opiate users: prospective cohort study of impact on knowledge and attitudes and subsequent management of overdoses
U1 - Opioids & Substance Use
U2 - 18821875
U3 - 10.1111/j.1360-0443.2008.02314.x
VL - 103
VO - 1360-0443; 0965-2140
Y1 - 2008
ER -