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Naloxone distribution and cardiopulmonary resuscitation training for injection drug users to prevent heroin overdose death: A pilot intervention study

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Abstract

Fatal heroin overdose has become a leading cause of death among injection drug users (IDUs). Several recent feasibility studies have concluded that naloxone distribution programs for heroin injectors should be implemented to decrease heroin overdose deaths, but there have been no prospective trials of such programs in North America. This pilot study was undertaken to investigate the safety and feasibility of training injection drug using partners to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and administer naloxone in the event of heroin overdose. During May and June 2001, 24 IDUs (12 pairs of injection partners) were recruited from street settings in San Francisco. Participants took part in 8-hour training in heroin overdose prevention, CPR, and the use of naloxone. Following the intervention, participants were prospectively followed for 6 months to determine the number and outcomes of witnessed heroin overdoses, outcomes of participant interventions, and changes in participants’ knowledge of overdose and drug use behavior. Study participants witnessed 20 heroin overdose events during 6 months follow-up. They performed CPR in 16 (80%) events, administered naloxone in 15 (75%) and did one or the other in 19 (95%). All overdose victims survived. Knowledge about heroin overdose management increased, whereas heroin use decreased. IDUs can be trained to respond to heroin overdose emergencies by performing CPR and administering naloxone. Future research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of this peer intervention to prevent fatal heroin overdose.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine, San Francisco VA Medical Center, University of California, 4150 Clement Street, Box 111-A1, 94121, San Francisco, CA

    Karen H. Seal

  2. The Urban Health Study, University of California, San Francisco, California

    Robert Thawley, Lauren Gee, Alex H. Kral, Dan Ciccarone, Moher Downing & Brian R. Edlin

  3. San Francisco Department of Public Health, San Francisco, California

    Joshua Bamberger

  4. Center for the Study of Hepatitis C, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, New York

    Brian R. Edlin

Authors
  1. Karen H. Seal
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  2. Robert Thawley
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  3. Lauren Gee
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  4. Joshua Bamberger
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  5. Alex H. Kral
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  6. Dan Ciccarone
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  7. Moher Downing
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  8. Brian R. Edlin
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Correspondence to Karen H. Seal.

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Seal, K.H., Thawley, R., Gee, L. et al. Naloxone distribution and cardiopulmonary resuscitation training for injection drug users to prevent heroin overdose death: A pilot intervention study. J Urban Health 82, 303–311 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1093/jurban/jti053

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/jurban/jti053

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