Missing Data

By Matt Curtis

Looking back to the situation five or ten years ago, we’ve made major progress in building an evidence base around overdose, both in terms of the prevalence of overdose in different kinds of drug using communities and the efficacy of prevention and response programs. More research is happening now than ever before, at a bigger scale and in more places.

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As with any new area that epidemiology sticks its nose into the first wave of research is often all about counting: how big is the problem, what kind of people is it affecting, where and in what way? Although there’s work to be done still on these kinds of most basic questions, we have a pretty good idea of the scale of the overdose problem in many parts of the world and enough solid information to take action at a public health level without fearing we may be wildly off base. (Some people would disagree with that statement, which may deserve a fuller discussion on OPA; for now I’ll only note that doubters of overdose prevention programming are nowadays mostly confined to the wing of public health usually referred to as “Wrong.”)

So what should come next? Here, thinking out loud, are eight areas that I think researchers could fruitfully investigate:

(1) Smoking and cardiovascular and lung disease: How much is tobacco smoking-related cardiovascular disease related to cocaine (and other stimulant) overdose?  Similarly, how much is smoking, COPD, chronic bronchitis and other chronic lung disease related to opioid overdose?  My gut tells me the answer in both cases is ‘probably a lot, especially in combination with other health problems,’ but there’s very little published information on these subjects. And I don’t know a single harm reduction organization that has a serious tobacco harm reduction or smoking cessation program (though that may be just because I need to get out more). Are we failing people on this because everyone’s just thinking that smoking is pretty punk rock and part of the scene and all I need is nic-fitting crack users running around my drop-in center?

International Overdose Awareness Day News and Opinion Roundup

As we mark International Overdose Awareness Day today, there is more attention than ever to the subject and a number of excellent articles online. Here's a quick rundown of some of them:

The amazing New York City organization VOCAL is campaigning for the NY Police Department to   support New York's recent 911 Good Samaritan law by training officers and conducting community outreach. The law, which goes into effect on September 18, will provide protection against arrest or prosecution for illegal drug possession (including alcohol possession for minors) for people who call an ambulance in response to an overdose. Do you live in NYC? You can support VOCAL's campaign here.

The Drug Policy Alliance (DPA) is pushing a similar 911 Good Samaritan bill in California, and has published an open letter to Governor Jerry Brown today. More information on DPA's work on overdose can be found here, including ways to get involved.

OPA editor Roxanne Saucier has an article on the Open Society Foundation's website on the "I'm the Evidence: Naloxone Works" video campaign organized by the Eurasian Harm Reduction Network and the Harm Reduction Coalition. Join the campaign's Facebook page here and have a look at OPA's explanation of how to contribute your own videos.

Music executive and DPA board member Jason Flom has a good op-ed in today's New York Post reflecting on overdose and the music industry. Have a look here. 

The drugs, addiction and recovery magazine The Fix has a story on International Overdose Awareness Day, including links to events happening around the world.

Shawn Norton has a moving story about struggling with her daughter's overdose death and how she came to be involved in overdose prevention advocacy.

What did we miss? Please send OPA more news or your own thoughts on International Overdose Awareness Day and we'll be happy to post them.