Abstract: (see Poster Gallery) Predictive Factors of Carrying Naloxone Among PWUD (Society for Social Work and Research 27th Annual Conference - Social Work Science and Complex Problems: Battling Inequities + Building Solutions)
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SSWR 2023 Poster Gallery: as a registered in-person and virtual attendee, you have access to the virtual Poster Gallery which includes only the posters that elected to present virtually. The rest of the posters are presented in-person in the Poster/Exhibit Hall located in Phoenix A/B, 3rd floor. The access to the Poster Gallery will be available via the virtual conference platform the week of January 9. You will receive an email with instructions how to access the virtual conference platform.

617P (see Poster Gallery) Predictive Factors of Carrying Naloxone Among PWUD

Schedule:
Sunday, January 15, 2023
Phoenix C, 3rd Level (Sheraton Phoenix Downtown)
* noted as presenting author
Ashleigh Herrera, PhD, Assistant Professor, California State University, Bakersfield, Bakersfield, CA
Background: Opioid overdose (OD) deaths have accelerated following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Naloxone remains the safest and most accessible intervention for laypersons to combat opioid ODs in their communities. However, significant barriers to naloxone uptake persist, and persons who use drugs (PWUD) do not regularly carry naloxone. Limited studies have examined the correlates of PWUD regularly carrying naloxone, which are necessary for targeted public health intervention development and implementation.

Methods: Over a 9-month period, we administered a 136-item in-person survey to a convenience sample of 1,127 syringe exchange program (SEP) clients in Atlanta, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles. The key domains of correlates include sociodemographic characteristics, substance use, health, and bystander interventions. Binary logistic regression was conducted to determine the correlates of regularly carrying naloxone.

Results: Based on the likelihood ratio tests for the adjusted model, the following variables were identified as statistically significantly associated with carrying naloxone: Los Angeles resident compared to Las Vegas (OR = 1.771, p < .012), SNAP benefits recipient (past 6 months) (OR = 1.519, p < .027), polysubstance use compared to heroin use (OR = 2.581, p < .004), and history of assisting someone overdosing (OR = 2.364, p < .000). Black participants were significantly less likely to report carrying naloxone regularly compared to white participants (OR = .505, p < .008).

Conclusions: Naloxone distribution efforts should be directed toward all PWUDs, as they are likely to encounter an opioid OD in their social environment. Government and social service agencies, like SNAP providers, should enhance naloxone access by providing naloxone take-home kits to their clients. Naloxone outreach, education, and distribution efforts must be specifically tailored and directed to Black communities in order to increase the potential for layperson bystander intervention for opioid ODs in Black communities.

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