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Self-reported and observed heroin overdoses in Malmoe

Brådvik, Louise LU ; Hulenvik, P ; Frank, Arne LU ; Medvedeo, A and Berglund, Mats LU (2007) In Journal of Substance Use 12(2). p.119-126
Abstract
Object: The aim of the present study was to investigate the pattern of non-fatal heroin overdoses for men and women in Sweden, a country with late onset of heroin use.



Material: Subjects were recruited through the Syringe Programme and the Addiction Centre in Malmoe. A total of 149 subjects were interviewed, 108 men and 41 women. They were asked about their social situation, experienced and observed overdoses and circumstances around them.



Results: Overdoses were very common; 74% of the subjects had experienced at least one overdose. Almost all, 96%, had observed at least one overdose in others and 32% had witnessed a fatal overdose. Actions taken were often insufficient. A combination with other... (More)
Object: The aim of the present study was to investigate the pattern of non-fatal heroin overdoses for men and women in Sweden, a country with late onset of heroin use.



Material: Subjects were recruited through the Syringe Programme and the Addiction Centre in Malmoe. A total of 149 subjects were interviewed, 108 men and 41 women. They were asked about their social situation, experienced and observed overdoses and circumstances around them.



Results: Overdoses were very common; 74% of the subjects had experienced at least one overdose. Almost all, 96%, had observed at least one overdose in others and 32% had witnessed a fatal overdose. Actions taken were often insufficient. A combination with other drugs, mainly benzodiazepine and alcohol and/or a lowered tolerance for heroin after visits in institutions contributed to the overdose in a majority of the cases. Men and women differed in that men used concomitant drugs more often and women more often took heroin alone.



Conclusion: Self-reported and observed non-fatal heroin overdoses were more common than expected. Contributing factors were found in the majority of the cases. Pure overdoses were more common in women. (Less)
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author
; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Journal of Substance Use
volume
12
issue
2
pages
119 - 126
publisher
Taylor & Francis
external identifiers
  • scopus:34247619258
ISSN
1465-9891
DOI
10.1080/14659890601178667
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
The information about affiliations in this record was updated in December 2015. The record was previously connected to the following departments: Clinical Health Promotion Centre (013065010), Psychiatry (Lund) (013303000), Psychiatry/Primary Care/Public Health (013240500)
id
33ad5efa-a5b9-4c52-9496-8e018b209452 (old id 1142762)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 15:42:03
date last changed
2022-01-28 06:38:31
@article{33ad5efa-a5b9-4c52-9496-8e018b209452,
  abstract     = {{Object: The aim of the present study was to investigate the pattern of non-fatal heroin overdoses for men and women in Sweden, a country with late onset of heroin use.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
Material: Subjects were recruited through the Syringe Programme and the Addiction Centre in Malmoe. A total of 149 subjects were interviewed, 108 men and 41 women. They were asked about their social situation, experienced and observed overdoses and circumstances around them.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
Results: Overdoses were very common; 74% of the subjects had experienced at least one overdose. Almost all, 96%, had observed at least one overdose in others and 32% had witnessed a fatal overdose. Actions taken were often insufficient. A combination with other drugs, mainly benzodiazepine and alcohol and/or a lowered tolerance for heroin after visits in institutions contributed to the overdose in a majority of the cases. Men and women differed in that men used concomitant drugs more often and women more often took heroin alone.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
Conclusion: Self-reported and observed non-fatal heroin overdoses were more common than expected. Contributing factors were found in the majority of the cases. Pure overdoses were more common in women.}},
  author       = {{Brådvik, Louise and Hulenvik, P and Frank, Arne and Medvedeo, A and Berglund, Mats}},
  issn         = {{1465-9891}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{119--126}},
  publisher    = {{Taylor & Francis}},
  series       = {{Journal of Substance Use}},
  title        = {{Self-reported and observed heroin overdoses in Malmoe}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14659890601178667}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/14659890601178667}},
  volume       = {{12}},
  year         = {{2007}},
}