Citation

O'Keefe D, Bowring A, Aitken C, Dietze P. Subst. Use Misuse 2018; 53(5): 755-762.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/10826084.2017.1363240

PMID

28960149

Abstract

BACKGROUND: People who inject drugs (PWID) are at disproportionately high risk of suicidal behaviors, as are individuals who report same-sex attraction or experience. However, there is little evidence of compounded risk of suicide for individuals who report same-sex sexual intercourse (SSI) and are PWID.
OBJECTIVES: To explore the associations of lifetime intentional overdose amongst a cohort of PWID, with particular attention to those reporting SSI.
METHODS: The sample included 529 participants, from an ongoing cohort of 757 PWID. An "ever" SSI variable was created for participants who reported sexual intercourse with a same-sex partner at any longitudinal interview. We explored the adjusted associations between SSI and lifetime intentional overdose using logistic regression.
RESULTS: Ninety-one (17%) participants reported ever experiencing an intentional overdose. Forty-one (8%) participants reported SSI at any interview. Three hundred and sixty (68%) participants reported diagnosis of a mental health condition. Diagnosis of a mental health condition (AOR = 2.02, 95% CIs: 1.14, 3.59) and SSI (AOR = 2.58, 95% CIs: 1.22, 5.48) significantly increased the odds of lifetime intentional overdose.

CONCLUSIONS/Importance: We found a heightened risk of intentional overdose amongst PWID reporting SSI, after controlling for diagnosis of a mental health condition. Services need to be aware of this heightened risk and target interventions appropriately.

Language: en

Keywords

Humans; Adult; Female; Male; Australia; Adolescent; suicide; Young Adult; Drug Overdose; Suicide, Attempted; Sexual Behavior; Homosexuality; sexual orientation; Substance Abuse, Intravenous; Drug Users; intentional overdose; People who inject drugs; lesbian/gay/bisexual