Frequency and associated risk factors of non-fatal overdose reported by pregnant women with opioid use disorder

Addict Sci Clin Pract. 2018 Dec 14;13(1):26. doi: 10.1186/s13722-018-0126-0.

Abstract

Background: Little is known about opioid overdose or naloxone access among pregnant women.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence of non-fatal overdose, risk factors for overdose, and naloxone access among third trimester women in treatment for opioid use disorder.

Methods: We collected baseline data from a case management parental-support intervention study. To explore the association of variables with past year overdose, we used Wilcoxon rank-sum test, Chi square or Fisher's exact tests.

Results: Among 99 participants, 14% (95% CI 7-21%) reported past year overdose and 67% (95% CI 57-76%) had received overdose education and a naloxone kit. Younger age was the only variable associated with past year overdose.

Conclusions: In this sample, past year non-fatal overdose was common, younger age was a risk factor, and most participants had received a naloxone kit. Further work is needed to understand whether younger age is a risk factor in the general population of pregnant women with opioid use disorder and to identify other potential risk factors for overdose in this population.

Keywords: Naloxone; Opioids; Overdose; Pregnancy.

Publication types

  • Letter
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Drug Overdose / drug therapy*
  • Drug Overdose / epidemiology*
  • Female
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  • Health Services Accessibility
  • Humans
  • Mental Disorders / epidemiology
  • Naloxone / administration & dosage
  • Naloxone / therapeutic use*
  • Narcotic Antagonists / administration & dosage
  • Narcotic Antagonists / therapeutic use*
  • Opioid-Related Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Patient Education as Topic
  • Pregnancy
  • Risk Factors
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Narcotic Antagonists
  • Naloxone