No evidence of compensatory drug use risk behavior among heroin users after receiving take-home naloxone

• Published in: Addictive behaviors 2017-08, Vol.71, p.104-106
• Main Authors: Jones, Jermaine D, Campbell, Aimee, Metz, Verena E, Comer, Sandra D
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Addictions; Drug abuse; Drug addiction; Drug overdose; Drug Overdose - prevention & control; Drug use; Follow-Up Studies; Heroin; Heroin Dependence - drug therapy; Humans; Naloxone; Naloxone - therapeutic use; Narcotic Antagonists - therapeutic use; Narcotics; Opioid abuse; Opioids; Overdose; Psychiatry; Risk taking; Severity of Illness Index
• ISSN: 0306-4603; 1873-6327
• DOI: 10.1016/j.addbeh.2017.03.008

Abstract Introduction Some fear that distribution of naloxone to persons at risk of experiencing an opioid overdose may reduce the perceived negative consequences of drug use, leading to riskier patterns of use. This study assessed whether participation in naloxone/overdose training altered drug use frequency, quantity or severity among heroin users in and out of treatment. Methods Clinical interviews were performed assessing patterns of heroin and other drug use prior to, and at multiple timepoints after overdose education and naloxone training. This study compared baseline drug use to that at 1 and 3 months post training. Results Both current heroin users ( n = 61) and former users in agonist maintenance ( n = 69) typically showed decreases in heroin and polydrug use at both 1 and 3 months after training. The Addiction Severity Index drug composite score also decreased at follow up. Conclusions This analysis found no evidence of compensatory drug use following naloxone/overdose training among two groups of heroin users. These findings support the acceptance and expansion of naloxone distribution to at-risk populations and may assist in allaying concerns about the potential for unintended negative consequences on drug use.