Changes in overdose knowledge and attitudes in an incarcerated sample of people living with HIV
International Journal of Prisoner Health
ISSN: 1744-9200
Article publication date: 15 June 2021
Issue publication date: 17 November 2021
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present evaluation results. People exiting incarceration who use opioids are at an elevated risk for overdose following release. People living with HIV (PLWH) who use drugs are also at increased overdose risk. Overdose education and naloxone distribution (OEND) is an effective community-based intervention, but few OEND programs have been evaluated in a correctional setting and none have specifically targeted PLWH.
Design/methodology/approach
An OEND pilot program was implemented in the Philadelphia jail from December 2017 to June 2019. OEND was provided through an HIV case management program and naloxone given at release. Participants (n = 68) were assessed for changes in overdose knowledge and beliefs in their ability to respond to an overdose from baseline to one month later while still incarcerated. Other demographic variables were assessed via publicly available records and case manager chart abstraction.
Findings
A total of 120 incarcerated PLWH were OEND trained; 68 (56.7%) were still incarcerated one month later and received post-tests. The 68-person sample was predominantly male (79.4%) and Black (64.7%). One-fifth reported heroin use, a third reported cocaine use and nearly 2/3 reported use of any illegal drug on date of arrest. Among these 68, overdose knowledge and overdose attitudes improved significantly (p = 0.002 and p < 0.001, respectively).
Originality/value
OEND in correctional settings is feasible and knowledge and overdose attitudes improved significantly from baseline. OEND programs should be implemented within the general population of incarcerated people but, as with PLWH, can be extended to other vulnerable populations within correctional settings, such as persons with mental health conditions and a history of homelessness.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
Research Funding: This work was supported by a grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (R36DA043393, PI: Reed). This sponsor had no role in the study design, collection, analysis or interpretation of data, in the writing of the report, nor in the decision to submit the paper for publication.
Citation
Reed, M., Siegler, A., Tabb, L.P., Momplaisir, F., Krevitz, D. and Lankenau, S. (2021), "Changes in overdose knowledge and attitudes in an incarcerated sample of people living with HIV", International Journal of Prisoner Health, Vol. 17 No. 4, pp. 560-573. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPH-01-2021-0004
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited