Prevalence of and Risk Factors Associated With Nonfatal Overdose Among Veterans Who Have Experienced Homelessness

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Abstract
Drug overdose accounts for approximately 70 000 deaths annually in the United States,1 and nonfatal overdose accounts for more than 500 000 emergency department visits each year.2 However, overdose risk varies substantially among individuals and across populations. Individuals who have experienced homelessness, including approximately 4% of Americans,3 are at increased risk. Overdose is one of the most common causes of death for younger individuals experiencing homelessness, with opioids implicated in most cases.4 However, the prevalence of nonfatal overdose among this population is unknown. Understanding the prevalence of and risk factors associated with nonfatal overdose among individuals experiencing homelessness could inform risk mitigation interventions at approximately 300 federally funded Health Care for the Homeless programs in community health centers,5 approximately 55 patient-centered medical homes in the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that are tailored for individuals experiencing homelessness (known as Homeless Patient Aligned Care Teams [H-PACTs]),6 and other clinical settings that care for individuals experiencing homelessness.

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