Impact of drug consumption rooms on non-fatal overdoses, abscesses and emergency department visits in people who inject drugs in France: results from the COSINUS cohort

• Published in: International journal of epidemiology Vol. 52; no. 2; pp. 562 - 576
• Main Authors: Roux, P, Jauffret-Roustide, M, Donadille, C, Briand Madrid, L, Denis, C, Célérier, I, Chauvin, C, Hamelin, N, Maradan, G, Carrieri, M P, Protopopescu, C, Lalanne, L, Auriacombe, M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Oxford University Press 19.04.2023; Oxford University Press (OUP)
• Subjects: Abscess - complications; Abscess - epidemiology; Drug Overdose - epidemiology; Drug Users; Emergency Service, Hospital; France - epidemiology; Humans; Life Sciences; Needle-Exchange Programs; Prospective Studies; Santé publique et épidémiologie; Substance Abuse, Intravenous - complications; Substance Abuse, Intravenous - epidemiology; France; injection drug users; overdose; skin and soft tissue infections; risk environment; emergency department; Safer injecting facility; abscess
• ISSN: 0300-5771; 1464-3685
• DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyac120

Abstract Background The effectiveness of drug consumption rooms (DCRs) for people who inject drugs (PWID) has been demonstrated for HIV and hepatitis C virus risk practices, and access to care for substance use disorders. However, data on other health-related complications are scarce. Using data from the French COSINUS cohort, we investigated the impact of DCR exposure on non-fatal overdoses, abscesses and emergency department (ED) visits, all in the previous 6 months. Methods COSINUS is a 12-month prospective cohort study of 665 PWID in France studying DCR effectiveness on health. We collected data from face-to-face interviews at enrolment, and at 6 and 12 months of follow-up. After adjusting for other correlates (P-value < 0.05), the impact of DCR exposure on each outcome was assessed using a two-step Heckman mixed-effects probit model, allowing us to adjust for potential non-randomization bias due to differences between DCR-exposed and DCR-unexposed participants, while taking into account the correlation between repeated measures. Results At enrolment, 21%, 6% and 38% of the 665 participants reported overdoses, abscesses and ED visits, respectively. Multivariable models found that DCR-exposed participants were less likely to report overdoses [adjusted coefficient (95% CI): −0.47 (−0.88; −0.07), P = 0.023], abscesses [−0.74 (−1.11; −0.37), P < 0.001] and ED visits [−0.74 (−1.27; −0.20), P = 0.007]. Conclusion This is the first study to show the positive impact of DCR exposure on abscesses and ED visits, and confirms DCR effectiveness in reducing overdoses, when adjusting for potential non-randomization bias. Our findings strengthen the argument to expand DCR implementation to improve PWID injection environment and health.