Until recently, there was very little data on the prevalence of drug use as well as the incidence of drug-related overdoses in South Africa. Thus, we undertook a study with partners from TB HIV Care in order to better understand drug use and related behaviors across three cities in South Africa. We conducted a survey among 66 people who use drugs who also access harm reduction services in three South African cities to describe: (1) the personal and peer experiences of drug overdose, (2) establish the level of comfort in calling for emergency help in response to an overdose, (3) knowledge of responding to an opioid overdose management and (4) comfort in carrying naloxone.
The study demonstrates that there is likely to be an overdose burden amongst people who use drugs in South Africa. The study also highlights that people who use drugs are willing to report on personal and peer experiences of a drug overdose. The findings suggest that there is a need to strengthen efforts that raise awareness about overdose responses, including around the use of naloxone. The findings from the pilot demonstrate the need within networks of harm reduction service providers to raise awareness of the risks associated with a drug overdose, how to respond in the event of a drug overdose, and to advocate for increased community access to naloxone for peers and first responders.