Evaluation of the Staying Alive programme: Training injection drug users to properly administer naloxone and save lives

Abstract Background In response to the high rates of opiate-related overdoses and deaths in the United States, a number of overdose prevention programmes have been implemented that include training drug users to administer naloxone, an opiate antagonist. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The International journal of drug policy 2009-03, Vol.20 (2), p.131-136
Main Authors: Tobin, Karin E, Sherman, Susan G, Beilenson, Peter, Welsh, Christopher, Latkin, Carl A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Baltimore
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation - education
Drug Overdose - mortality
Drug Overdose - therapy
Drug users
Evaluation
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
Health services
Humans
Internal Medicine
Intravenous drug addiction
Intravenous drug addicts
Male
Medical Education
Middle Aged
Naloxone
Naloxone - administration & dosage
Naloxone - adverse effects
Naloxone - supply & distribution
Narcotic Antagonists - administration & dosage
Narcotic Antagonists - adverse effects
Narcotic Antagonists - supply & distribution
Needle-Exchange Programs - organization & administration
Overdose
Overdoses
Pharmaceuticals
Prevention
Preventive Health Services - methods
Preventive programmes
Substance Abuse, Intravenous - mortality
Substance Abuse, Intravenous - therapy
Training
U.S.A
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Summary:Abstract Background In response to the high rates of opiate-related overdoses and deaths in the United States, a number of overdose prevention programmes have been implemented that include training drug users to administer naloxone, an opiate antagonist. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the Staying Alive (SA) programme in Baltimore, Maryland, which trained drug users to prevent and respond to opiate overdose using techniques including mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and administration of naloxone. Methods Participants for the SA programme were recruited from multiple locations by Baltimore City Health Department Needle Exchange programme staff. A 1-h training was conducted by two facilitators. Participants who successfully completed the programme were provided with a kit that contained naloxone. Participants in the evaluation study were enrolled prior to the training session. The present analysis includes 85 participants who completed a pre- and post-test evaluation survey. Results At both time points, 43 participants reported having witnessed an overdose. Post-training, naloxone was administered by 19 with no reported adverse effects. Post-training, a greater proportion of participants reported using resuscitation skills taught in the SA programme along with increased knowledge specifically about naloxone. Conclusions Results from this study provide additional evidence to support the effectiveness of overdose prevention training programmes that include skills building for drug users to administer naloxone.
ISSN:0955-3959
1873-4758
DOI:10.1016/j.drugpo.2008.03.002