Non-fatal overdose and associated factors among people who use opioids: findings from a cross-sectional study

People who use opioids (PWUO) face a higher risk of overdose, often resulting in significant morbidity and mortality within this population. Understanding the factors that contribute to non-fatal overdose among PWUO is essential for developing effective prevention strategies. Thus, the present study aimed to report on the history of and factors associated with non-fatal opioid overdose among PWUO. From April to June 2024, 199 adults with a recent history of opioid use were enrolled in a cross-sectional study to evaluate past experiences of non-fatal overdose. Participants self-reported their socio-demographic characteristics, experiences with overall overdose, history of opioid use, alcohol consumption, and mental health symptoms. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess the correlations between the outcome variables. The mean age of participants was 44.2 years (SD = 10.2). Approximately 49.2% of participants had experienced an opioid overdose at some point. Opioid dependence, alcohol use disorder, and depressive symptoms were reported by 83.9%, 65.8%, and 58.3% of participants, respectively. Older participants were less likely to experience an overdose (aOR: 0.9, 95% CI: 0.9–0.9). On the other hand, participants who were opioid-dependent (aOR: 4.4, 95% CI: 1.7–11.7) and those experiencing suicidal ideation (aOR: 1.8, 95% CI: 1.0-3.5) were more likely to have ever experienced an opioid overdose. Our study demonstrated high rates of non-fatal opioid overdose among PWUO. This finding highlights the need for targeted harm reduction interventions and cross-sector collaboration to address opioid dependency and suicidal ideation, aiming to prevent overdoses in this population.