A study examined the connection between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and non-fatal overdose among people who use drugs (PWUD) in New York City. The research involved 247 participants, primarily male (74.9%), with 43.3% reporting a history of non-fatal overdose. Five latent classes of ACEs were identified: no/low ACEs (26.3%), household dysfunction (25.1%), household dysfunction plus emotional, physical, and sexual abuse (19.4%), emotional and physical abuse (16.2%), and those experiencing all ACEs (13.0%). Individuals in the class experiencing all ACEs had nearly five times the odds of a non-fatal overdose compared to those with no/low ACEs. Those in the household dysfunction class also had elevated overdose odds. Additional factors linked to overdose included unstable housing and moderate to high levels of cocaine and opioid use disorders. The findings indicate that a wide range of ACEs may increase overdose risk, suggesting that addressing early-life adversity in harm reduction strategies and treatment approaches could help reduce this risk among PWUD.
Increased risk of non-fatal overdose associated with broad adverse childhood experiences among people who use drugs in New York City: a latent class analysis
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