Changes in Perceptions of First Responders After Witnessing a Drug Overdose: Individual and Contextual Variations Among People Who Use Opioids in West Virginia

Introduction: Success of opioid overdose interventions involving first responders is dependent on the comfort level that bystanders have with first responders and their willingness to call for assistance. Positive or negative experiences with first responders following witnessing an overdose may influence a person’s willingness to call a first responder for assistance in the future. Purpose: The objective of this study was to examine changes in bystanders’ perceptions of first responders following witnessing an overdose attended by emergency medical services or a law enforcement official. It specifically explored perception changes among a sample of individuals residing in Appalachia who use prescription opioids nonmedically. Methods: Individuals from West Virginia who used prescription opioids nonmedically were interviewed to examine changes in perceptions of first responders following witnessing an overdose. The analytic sample (N = 50) consisted of participants who witnessed an overdose for which 911 was called and stayed until a first responder arrived. Chi-square contingency tables and ANOVA were conducted to assess relationships between individual and contextual characteristics with changes in perceptions. Results: Findings indicate that the majority (63%) had improved perceptions of first responders, 6% had diminished perceptions, and 24% were unchanged. Changes in perceptions varied by income, presence during substance use, and prior concerns about first responders. Implications: Individuals who reported experiencing a positive interaction with first a responder after witnessing an overdose may be more likely to call 911 during an overdose and support other interventions by first responders (e.g., referral to syringe service programs or treatment with medications for opioid use disorder)

Establishing Peer Recovery Support Services to Address the Central Appalachian Opioid Epidemic: The West Virginia Peers Enhancing Education, Recovery, and Survival (WV PEERS) Pilot Program

Introduction: Central Appalachia has been disproportionately affected by the opioid epidemic and overdose fatalities. We developed West Virginia Peers Enhancing Education, Recovery, and Survival (WV PEERS), a program based on peer recovery support, to engage individuals using opioids and link them with a range of services. Methods: Community partners providing services to individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) were identified and collaborations were formalized using a standardized memorandum of understanding. The program was structured to offer ongoing peer recovery support specialist (PRSS) services, not just a one-time referral. A website and cards describing the WV PEERS program were developed and disseminated via community partners and community education sessions. Results: Overall, 1456 encounters with individuals with OUD (mean= 2 encounters per individual) occurred in a variety of community settings over 8 months. The majority of referrals were from harm reduction programs. Overall, 63.9% (n=931) of individuals served by WV PEERS accessed services for substance use disorders and/or mental health problems. Over half (52.3%; n = 487) of individuals entered substance use and/or mental health treatment, and nearly a third (30.4%; n = 283) remained in treatment over six months. Implications: Using the WV PEERS model, PRSSs effectively engaged and linked individuals with OUD to mental health and substance use treatment in rural central Appalachia. Future research is needed to determine whether these services reduce the risk of overdose mortality

Measurement of the Top Quark Pair Production Cross Section in pbarp Collisions

We present a measurement of the ttbar production cross section in ppbar collisions at root(s) = 1.8TeV by the D0 experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron. The measurement is based on data from an integrated luminosity of approximately 125 pb^-1 accumulated during the 1992-1996 collider run. We observe 39 ttbar candidate events in the dilepton and lepton+jets decay channels with an expected background of 13.7+-2.2 events. For a top quark mass of 173.3GeV/c^2, we measure the ttbar production cross section to be 5.5+-1.8 pb.Comment: 11 pages with 3 encapsulated PostScript figures and 2 PostScript table included in the body of the articl