ArticleThe International journal on drug policy2019
Narratives of people who inject drugs on factors contributing to opioid overdose.
Article in The International journal on drug policy, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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Who cites it
13 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 24 citations in OpenAlex.
- Structural Vulnerability in Health Research: A Systematic Mixed Studies Review.Journal of advanced nursing · 2026Pooled it
- Psychosocial factors associated with overdose subsequent to Illicit Drug use: a systematic review and narrative synthesis.Harm reduction journal · 2024Pooled it
- All-cause mortality and overdose deaths among 4192 people who inject drugs in Stockholm: a 10-year register-based cohort study.Harm reduction journal · 2026Article
- A participatory photovoice investigation of community assets, barriers, and opportunities to curb the opioid epidemic.Journal of substance use and addiction treatment · 2025Article
- A qualitative study of benzodiazepine/z-drug and opioid co-use patterns and overdose risk.Harm reduction journal · 2025Article
- Community pharmacy's role in dispensing androgens and supporting harm reduction amid current policy dilemmas.Substance abuse treatment, prevention, and policy · 2025Article
- 'It was like coming back from the clouds': a qualitative analysis of the lived experience of overdose consequent to drug use among a cohort of people who use drugs in Scotland.Harm reduction journal · 2024Article
- Effects of COVID-19 on Overdose Risk Behaviors Among People Who Inject Drugs in Wisconsin.WMJ : official publication of the State Medical Society of Wisconsin · 2023Article
- Exploring trauma and wellbeing of people who use drugs after witnessing overdose: A qualitative study.The International journal on drug policy · 2023Article
- Impact of COVID-19 & Response Measures on HIV-HCV Prevention Services and Social Determinants in People Who Inject Drugs in 13 Sites with Recent HIV Outbreaks in Europe, North America and Israel.AIDS and behavior · 2023Article
- (Re)situating expertise in community-based overdose response: Insights from an ethnographic study of overdose prevention sites (OPS) in Vancouver, Canada.The International journal on drug policy · 2023Article
- Prevalence and correlates of using opioids alone among individuals in a residential treatment program in Michigan: implications for overdose mortality prevention.Harm reduction journal · 2022Article
- Characteristics of and Experience Among People Who Use Take-Home Naloxone in Skåne County, Sweden.Frontiers in public health · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
3 authors at 1 institution in 1 country.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundIn recent years, there has been increasing national and global attention to opioid overdoses. In San Francisco, it is estimated that the population of people who inject drugs (PWID) has more than doubled in the past ten years. The risk factors for opioid overdose have been examined closely, but firsthand accounts of PWID who have experienced overdoses are less documented. In this paper, we use two theories - lay expertise and structural vulnerabilities - as frameworks to frame and qualitatively examine the narratives of PWID surrounding their recent overdose experiences.
methodsAudio-recorded semi-structured open-ended motivational interviewing counseling sessions were conducted with PWID in San Francisco who have experienced at least one non-fatal overdose event (N = 40). Participants discussed the context of recent opioid overdoses, either witnessed or personally experienced, focusing on their perceptions of unique contributing factors. Interview data were coded and analysed using ATLAS.ti. We used a thematic content analysis approach to qualitatively analyze data queries and generate themes. We used theories of structural vulnerability and lay expertise to frame the analysis.
resultsUsing quotes from the participants, we report four central themes that contributed to participants' overdose experiences: 1) Social Dynamics and Opioid Expertise; 2) Uncertain Supply, Composition, Source; 3) Balancing Polysubstance Use, and 4) Emotional Pain.
conclusionAs PWID described their overdose experiences, many factors that contributed to their overdoses were situated at the structural level. The everyday, lived experiences of PWID often competed or conflicted with public health messages and approaches. The accumulated expertise of PWID about everyday risk factors can be leveraged by public health practitioners to inform and improve overdose prevention interventions and messages.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.