Release Date
Geography
Language of Resource
Full Text Available
Open Access / OK to Reproduce
Peer Reviewed
Objective
Little is known about how place impacts fatal overdose for people experiencing homelessness (PEH) who use drugs beyond the public versus private domains. This study investigated patterns of neighborhood environment features at locations of fatal overdoses among PEH.
Findings/Key points
Harm reduction services should be co-located in facilities that serve PEH and targeted to street blocks with indicators of physical and social disorder. While supportive housing is a crucial step in preventing fatal opioid overdoses among PEH, identifying neighborhoods for intervention services delivery and harm reduction outreach for PEH is necessary.
Design/methods
We remotely visited locations of opioid-involved fatal overdoses with Google Street View and used systematic social observation to assess characteristics of the street block related to drug exposures. We cross-referenced home address with city shelters and supportive housing to identify PEH.
