NCJ Number
184976
Editor(s)
Phillip O. Coffin
Date Published
January 2000
Length
48 pages
Annotation
This report discusses heroin overdoses, overdose fatalities, and overdose prevention; it identifies harm reduction strategies and agencies.
Abstract
The report presents an overview of heroin overdose and basic guidelines for preventing overdoses and fatalities. It also describes the impetus for and results of a multiagency intervention to decrease heroin overdoses and fatalities in South Australia. It also includes an article endorsing making naloxone available to drug users to prevent overdose fatalities. The data are presented in reprints of three leading publications: (1) "Acute heroin overdose," Annals of Internal Medicine (1999); (2) "It's rarely just the 'h': Addressing overdose among South Australian heroin users through a process of intersectoral collaboration: Summary of the report (1999); and (3) "Preventing opiate overdose fatalities with take-home naloxone: Pre-launch study of possible impact and acceptability," Addiction (1999). The main bibliography lists publications about heroin overdose, basic overdose tips, and information on ordering overdose prevention materials produced by harm reduction agencies. Figure, tables, references, bibliographies