TY - JOUR
T1 - The association between change in social network characteristics and non-fatal overdose
T2 - Results from the SHIELD study in Baltimore, MD, USA
AU - Tobin, Karin E.
AU - Hua, Wei
AU - Costenbader, Elizabeth C.
AU - Latkin, Carl A.
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was supported in part by a grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (R01 DA13142) and the Open Society Institute-Baltimore Drug Addiction Treatment Program (20007265).
PY - 2007/2/23
Y1 - 2007/2/23
N2 - Background: Social network factors have been reported to be associated with non-fatal overdose. Yet, few studies have examined how changes in social network characteristics may influence overdose risk. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between changes in social network and non-fatal overdose. Methods: Data for this study came from 659 participants enrolled in the Self-Help in Eliminating Life-Threatening Diseases (SHIELD) study, who reported details about their non-fatal overdose experience between enrollment and a follow-up visit. Social network characteristics were described at both time points and net change in network composition was calculated. Results: The sample was predominately male (56%), African-American (96%) and unemployed (78%). Experience of non-fatal overdose between time points was reported by 15%. Older age was associated with non-fatal overdose. Interaction between incarceration status and drug use was statistically significant. Protective factors were having a denser network at baseline and a network that became denser after adjusting for gender, homelessness, incarceration, drug use and total network size. Conclusions: Drug users' social networks are an important target for overdose prevention interventions. Further research on overdose risk and movement of specific network members in and out of networks is warranted.
AB - Background: Social network factors have been reported to be associated with non-fatal overdose. Yet, few studies have examined how changes in social network characteristics may influence overdose risk. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between changes in social network and non-fatal overdose. Methods: Data for this study came from 659 participants enrolled in the Self-Help in Eliminating Life-Threatening Diseases (SHIELD) study, who reported details about their non-fatal overdose experience between enrollment and a follow-up visit. Social network characteristics were described at both time points and net change in network composition was calculated. Results: The sample was predominately male (56%), African-American (96%) and unemployed (78%). Experience of non-fatal overdose between time points was reported by 15%. Older age was associated with non-fatal overdose. Interaction between incarceration status and drug use was statistically significant. Protective factors were having a denser network at baseline and a network that became denser after adjusting for gender, homelessness, incarceration, drug use and total network size. Conclusions: Drug users' social networks are an important target for overdose prevention interventions. Further research on overdose risk and movement of specific network members in and out of networks is warranted.
KW - Injection drug users
KW - Overdose
KW - Social networks
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U2 - 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2006.08.002
DO - 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2006.08.002
M3 - Article
C2 - 16962254
AN - SCOPUS:33846095821
SN - 0376-8716
VL - 87
SP - 63
EP - 68
JO - Drug and alcohol dependence
JF - Drug and alcohol dependence
IS - 1
ER -