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Abstract
Overdose prevention training at syringe exchange sites
N Grossman
San Francisco AIDS Foundation, San Francisco, United States
Issue: There are approximately 120 heroin overdoses a year in San Francisco. Many times that is higher than San Francisco's homicide rate. Many injection drug users (IDU's) do not know the strategies to prevent overdoses and are hesitant to call emergency medical services for fear of getting arrested. Syringe Exchange Programs (SEP's) are designed to reduce the risk of contracting HIV/AIDs, but can also be a perfect venue for life-saving overdose training.
Description: The San Francisco AIDS Foundation HIV Prevention Project (HPP), the largest SEP in the United States, is collaborating with the Drug Overdose and Prevention Project to provide overdose training at HPP's syringe exchange sites. IDU's are taught what causes overdoses, dispels myths and trains participants in resuscitative breathing. For those who have sucessfully completed the training, a medical provider provides Naloxone, an opiate blocker that reverses the effects of heroin overdoses when injected into someone that is overdosing.
Lessons Learned: Syringe exchange sites are an ideal location to provide overdose prevention education. IDU's already come to exchange sites to lower their risk of contracting HIV or infecting someone else if they are already HIV positive. So, it is natural that they will attend this life-saving training in a location where they already get their injection supplies. Deaths from heroin overdoses can be drastically reduced if IDUs have access to overdose prevention education.
Recommendations: For very little money and training time, SEP's are the perfect venue for overdose prevention education. SEP staff and/or volunteers can be easily trained in overdose reduction techniques, including resuscitative breathing. Once the IDU's are trained, they can then become peer educators and train those that they inject with.
The XV International AIDS Conference
Abstract no.
TuPeD5004
Suggested Citation
" N Grossman ,
Overdose prevention training at syringe exchange sites.
Poster Exhibition:
The XV International AIDS Conference:
Abstract no.
TuPeD5004"
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