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By Rebecca Jefferis WilliamsonAugust 2, 2019 (San Diego) -- A research study at the University of California, San Diego includes participants who witnessed a drug overdose in the last six months. Among other questions, participants were asked if there was a decision to not involve emergency 911 services. Flyers soliciting participants were distributed in East County, including the Santee Library.
Just last week, four overdose deaths occurred in Lakeside, Santee, Poway, and Valley Center from a counterfeit oxycodone drug known as M-30 as reported by the East County Magazine on July 25, 2019.
The study results are not yet available, according to UCSD researcher Elizabeth Copulsky. Peter Davidson, Ph.D., of the UCSD Division of Global Public Health, is heading the project.
Participants who witnessed a drug overdose were asked to meet in a private setting such as a treatment room or library room to share their experiences, after providing informed consent.
Informed consent is a procedure which a competent subject, having received and understood all the research-related information, voluntarily provides their willingness to participate in a clinical trial.
According to Copulsky, the recruitment was completed about a month ago.
The purpose of the study is to find out what their experiences, and others, have been at overdoses. One of the factors they are studying is how individuals, at the scene of an overdose, make decisions about whether or not to involve 911 services.
Participants in this study must be 18 or older, provide informed consent and have witnessed a drug-related overdose in the last six months.
The location where participants reside was unavailable. Each participant was slated to receive reimbursement for their time in the amount of $40.00.
Results of the study will be determined at a later date.
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