Non-fatal stimulant overdose among homeless and unstably housed women in San Francisco, California

Abstract

Background: US rates of overdose deaths involving stimulants (e.g., cocaine or methamphetamine) have increased, but little is known about non-fatal stimulant overdoses, particularly among vulnerable populations. We characterized rates of non-fatal stimulant overdose identified outside of health care settings among women at high risk.

Methods: Homeless and unstably housed women in San Francisco, California using stimulants were administered questionnaires on drug use and outcomes (stimulant overdose, health care utilization) monthly for six months. Based on pilot interviews, stimulant overdose during follow-up was defined as acute toxicity from stimulant use ("over-amping") resulting in "feeling sick, really scared, or like one's life may be in danger". Poisson regression estimated unadjusted incidence rate ratio (IRR) comparing participant characteristics.

Results: We included 160 women (41% Black, 26% White, 15% Latina, median age 54 years) using crack cocaine (81%), methamphetamine (48%), and powdered cocaine (36%). Participants reported 67 non-fatal stimulant overdoses over 685 person-months of observation, a rate of 117.4 per 100 person-years (95% CI 85.8-160.5). Rates were higher among participants who were Latina vs. White (IRR 4.18 [1.60-10.94]), used methamphetamine (IRR 1.80 [0.96-3.38]), or used any stimulant daily/almost daily (IRR 2.63 [1.41-4.91]). Among women reporting stimulant overdose, 4% received emergency and 3% inpatient care for overdose of any drug.

Conclusions: Women in this setting, particularly those who used stimulants frequently or used methamphetamine, experienced high non-fatal stimulant overdose and rarely received health care for these events. Efforts should be made to increase awareness and reduce harms of stimulant toxicity in vulnerable populations.

Keywords: Cocaine; HIV; Homeless; Methamphetamine; Overdose; Stimulant; Unsheltered; Women.