Quantity fluctuations of illicitly used opioids and overdose risk.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Reduced opioid tolerance is believed to be associated with overdose risk, although this relationship has primarily been examined in the context of gaps and frequency of opioid use. We sought to assess how changes in the quantity of opioids used, as opposed to periods of abstinence or overall frequency of use, relate to overdose risk.

Methods

Among repeated visits of participants of a behavioral intervention trial from 2014 to 2016, we used multivariable logistic regression models fit with generalized estimating equations to examine the relationship between the percentage of opioid use days on which individuals used more or less than the quantity they used on average (i.e., quantity volatility) and the occurrence of opioid overdose.

Results

Our sample includ

SUBMITTER: Rowe C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6419728 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature