Characteristics of and Experience Among People Who Use Take-Home Naloxone in Skåne County, Sweden

Distribution of intranasal naloxone to potential opioid overdose bystanders in Sweden: effects on overdose mortality in a full region-wide study

OBJECTIVES

Distribution of take-home naloxone is suggested to reduce opioid-related fatalities, but few studies have examined the effects on overdose deaths in the general population of an entire community. This study aimed to assess the effects on overdose deaths of a large-scale take-home naloxone programme starting in June 2018, using an observational design with a historic control period.

DESIGN

From the national causes of death register, deaths diagnosed as X42 or Y12 (International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision, ICD-10) were registered as overdoses. Numbers of overdoses were calculated per 100 000 inhabitants in the general population, and controlled for data including only individuals with a prior substance use disorder in national patient registers, to focus on effects within the primary target population of the programme. The full intervention period (2019-2021) was compared with a historic control period (2013-2017).

SETTING

Skåne county, Sweden.

PARTICIPANTS

General population.

INTERVENTIONS

Large-scale take-home naloxone distribution to individuals at risk of overdose.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

Decrease in overdose deaths per 100 000 inhabitants, in total and within the population with substance use disorder diagnosis.

RESULTS

Annual average number of overdose deaths decreased significantly from 3.9 to 2.8 per 100 000 inhabitants from the control period to the intervention period (a significant decrease in men, from 6.7 to 4.3, but not in women, from 1.2 to 1.3). Significant changes remained when examining only prior substance use disorder patients, and decreases in overdose deaths could not be attributed to a change in treatment needs for opioid use disorders in healthcare and social services.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study, involving 3 years of take-home naloxone distribution, demonstrated a decreased overdose mortality in the population, however, only in men. The findings call for further implementation of naloxone programmes, and for further studies of potential effects and barriers in women.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT03570099.

Sweden's first Take-Home Naloxone program: participant characteristics, dose endpoints and predictors for overdose reversals

BACKGROUND

Opioid overdoses are a growing concern, particularly among people who inject drugs. Sweden, with a comparatively high proportion of drug-related mortality, introduced its first Take-Home Naloxone (THN) program in 2018, at the Stockholm needle and syringe program (NSP). In this study we compare THN participant characteristics regarding refills and overdose reversals as well as investigate predictors associated with number of reversals. We also investigate interventions performed in overdose situations and endpoints for naloxone doses.

METHODS

This was a prospective open inclusion cohort study conducted between January 24^th 2018 and March 31^st 2022 at the Stockholm NSP. Participants received THN, free of charge, after a training session and provided data regarding drug use and overdose experiences. During refill visits, participants reported if the naloxone was used for overdose reversal and, if so, responded to a ten-item questionnaire which included stating whether the naloxone recipient was the participant themselves or somebody else. Questionnaire data was combined with NSP database demographic data. Zero-inflated Poisson regression was applied to analyse predictors for number of reported overdose reversals.

RESULTS

Among study participants (n = 1,295), 66.5% stated opioids as their primary drug, and 61.4% and 81.0% had previous experience of a personal or witnessed overdose, respectively. Overall, 44.0% of participants reported a total of 1,625 overdose reversals and the victim was known to have survived in 95.6% of cases. Stimulant use (aIRR 1.26; 95% CI 1.01, 1.58), benzodiazepine use (aIRR 1.75; 95% CI 1.1, 2.78) and homelessness (aIRR 1.35; 95% CI 1.06, 1.73) were predictors associated with an increased number of reported overdose reversals. Mortality was higher among those who reported at least one overdose reversal (HR 3.4; 95% CI 2.2, 5.2).

CONCLUSIONS

An NSP's existent framework can be utilised to effectively implement a THN program, provide basic training and reach numerous high-risk individuals. During the four-year study, THN participants reversed a sizeable number of potentially fatal overdoses, of which many were reported by participants whose primary drug was not opioids. Naloxone refill rate was high, indicating that participants were motivated to maintain a supply of naloxone in case of future overdose events.

Take-Home Naloxone and risk management from the perspective of people who survived an opioid overdose in Stockholm - An analysis informed by drug, set and setting

BACKGROUND

Take-Home Naloxone (THN) programs were introduced in Sweden in 2018 - a country with one of the highest rates of overdose mortality in the EU and a severe stigmatisation of people who inject drugs. This qualitative study builds on the international research that has expanded a previously narrow and medical focus on overdose deaths. It uses Zinberg's framework to look beyond the role of the "drug" to include the attitudes and personality of the person ("set") and contextual factors ("setting"). This study explores the impacts of THN from the perspective of overdose survivors.

METHODS

Between November 2021 and May 2022 semi-structured interviews were conducted with 22 opioid overdose survivors, recruited among clients of the Stockholm needle and syringe program. All the participants had been treated with naloxone in an overdose situation. The interviews were processed through thematic analysis using deductive and inductive coding in accordance with the theoretical framework.

RESULTS

Interviewees included men and women who used different types of drugs. THN has impacted on "drug" in terms of naloxone-induced withdrawal symptoms and peers having to deal with survivors' emotions. Exploring "set" revealed feelings of shame following naloxone revival for the person who overdosed. Despite such reactions, participants retained an overwhelmingly positive attitude towards THN. Participants integrated THN into their risk management practices ("setting") and some acknowledged that THN provided a new way to treat overdoses without necessarily needing to interact with authorities, especially the police.

CONCLUSION

The THN program has influenced "drug, set and setting" for participants, providing increased safety at drug-intake and transferring overdose management and the burden of care to the community. The lived experience of participants also exposes the limitations of THN indicating that there are additional unmet needs beyond THN programs, particularly in terms of "setting".

Risks and overdose responses: Participant characteristics from the first seven years of a national take-home naloxone program

BACKGROUND

In 2014, the Norwegian government funded a large-scale take-home naloxone (THN) program to address high overdose mortality rates. The aims of this study are to describe characteristics among persons trained to receive THN, describe actions taken following THN use at an overdose event and to explore factors associated with naloxone use.

METHODS

This was a prospective cohort study of individuals who received THN from 2014 to 2021. Descriptive characteristics were collected at initial training. When returning for refill, participants reported on their previous naloxone use. In a multivariable logistic regression model exploring associations with naloxone use: gender, age, opioid use history, concomitant drug use, injecting, history of experienced or witnessed overdose were included.

RESULTS

In total, 3527 individuals were included in this study. There were 958 individuals who returned for refills 2303 times. Most participants were male (63.6%), with a history of opioid use (77.5%). Those who reported naloxone use were more likely to have a history of opioid use (aOR= 4.1; 95% CI=2.77,6.1), were younger (aOR=0.98; 95% CI=0.97,0.99) and had witnessed overdoses (aOR=3.3; 95% CI=1.98,5.34). Among current opioid users, the odds were higher for injectors (aOR=1.57; 95% CI=1.18,2.1). Naloxone use was reported 1282 times. Additional actions such as waking the person and calling the ambulance were frequently reported. Survival was reported in almost all cases (94%).

CONCLUSION

People who use drugs are a suitable target group for THN-programs, as they seem to be willing and capable to reverse overdoses effectively. Given their personal risk factors for overdosing, recipients will likely also benefit from overdose prevention education.