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Factors associated with history of non-fatal overdose among opioid users in the Swedish criminal justice system.

Håkansson, Anders C LU ; Schlyter, F and Berglund, Mats LU (2008) In Drug and Alcohol Dependence 94(1-3). p.48-55
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Overdose (OD) is a common cause of death in opioid users. Also, many current opioid users report a history of non-fatal OD. The present study aimed to identify factors associated with a history of non-fatal OD. METHODS: A sample of 7085 Swedish criminal justice clients with alcohol or drug misuse was assessed, using the Addiction Severity Index. Subjects reporting use of opioids during the 30 days prior to incarceration were included (n=1113). Relevant variables of misuse pattern, heredity, psychiatric symptoms and previous criminal charges were analysed in a logistic regression model. RESULTS: A history of non-fatal OD was reported by 55% (n=604). The estimated contribution to the variance in OD history was 25% for variables... (More)
BACKGROUND: Overdose (OD) is a common cause of death in opioid users. Also, many current opioid users report a history of non-fatal OD. The present study aimed to identify factors associated with a history of non-fatal OD. METHODS: A sample of 7085 Swedish criminal justice clients with alcohol or drug misuse was assessed, using the Addiction Severity Index. Subjects reporting use of opioids during the 30 days prior to incarceration were included (n=1113). Relevant variables of misuse pattern, heredity, psychiatric symptoms and previous criminal charges were analysed in a logistic regression model. RESULTS: A history of non-fatal OD was reported by 55% (n=604). The estimated contribution to the variance in OD history was 25% for variables describing misuse pattern, compared to 10% for psychiatric symptoms, 8% for heredity, and 8% for previous criminal charges. The final model included the following variables: history of injection drug use (OR 3.28), history of heroin use (OR 2.87), history of suicide attempt (OR 1.92), history of tranquilliser use (OR 1.91), being born in Sweden or other Nordic countries (OR 1.74), difficulty in controlling violent behaviour (OR 1.68), and paternal alcohol problems (OR 1.57). CONCLUSIONS: Suicide attempts and difficulty in controlling violent behaviour were associated with history of non-fatal OD, independent of variables of misuse pattern. This may indicate a possible association with impulse control disturbances, and may have clinical applications. Country of birth and heredity of alcohol problems also had some influence. As expected, severity of misuse most strongly contributed to history of non-fatal OD. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Drug and Alcohol Dependence
volume
94
issue
1-3
pages
48 - 55
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • pmid:18082338
  • wos:000253929700006
  • scopus:39249084746
  • pmid:18082338
ISSN
1879-0046
DOI
10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2007.10.014
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
396493de-af1b-48f3-ab6d-ee6c80056c43 (old id 1035237)
alternative location
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18082338?dopt=Abstract
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 06:57:59
date last changed
2022-03-23 00:27:32
@article{396493de-af1b-48f3-ab6d-ee6c80056c43,
  abstract     = {{BACKGROUND: Overdose (OD) is a common cause of death in opioid users. Also, many current opioid users report a history of non-fatal OD. The present study aimed to identify factors associated with a history of non-fatal OD. METHODS: A sample of 7085 Swedish criminal justice clients with alcohol or drug misuse was assessed, using the Addiction Severity Index. Subjects reporting use of opioids during the 30 days prior to incarceration were included (n=1113). Relevant variables of misuse pattern, heredity, psychiatric symptoms and previous criminal charges were analysed in a logistic regression model. RESULTS: A history of non-fatal OD was reported by 55% (n=604). The estimated contribution to the variance in OD history was 25% for variables describing misuse pattern, compared to 10% for psychiatric symptoms, 8% for heredity, and 8% for previous criminal charges. The final model included the following variables: history of injection drug use (OR 3.28), history of heroin use (OR 2.87), history of suicide attempt (OR 1.92), history of tranquilliser use (OR 1.91), being born in Sweden or other Nordic countries (OR 1.74), difficulty in controlling violent behaviour (OR 1.68), and paternal alcohol problems (OR 1.57). CONCLUSIONS: Suicide attempts and difficulty in controlling violent behaviour were associated with history of non-fatal OD, independent of variables of misuse pattern. This may indicate a possible association with impulse control disturbances, and may have clinical applications. Country of birth and heredity of alcohol problems also had some influence. As expected, severity of misuse most strongly contributed to history of non-fatal OD.}},
  author       = {{Håkansson, Anders C and Schlyter, F and Berglund, Mats}},
  issn         = {{1879-0046}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1-3}},
  pages        = {{48--55}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Drug and Alcohol Dependence}},
  title        = {{Factors associated with history of non-fatal overdose among opioid users in the Swedish criminal justice system.}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2007.10.014}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2007.10.014}},
  volume       = {{94}},
  year         = {{2008}},
}