Addressing the Opioid Crisis: A Qualitative Study of Black and Latinx Opioid Overdose Survivors

Abstract

The three-paper dissertation illustrates a phenomenological qualitative study conducted with 11 (n=11) New York City Black and Latinx opioid overdose survivors. In all of the analyses, a phenomenological approach was used to define themes into more prominent significant themes, using open and axial coding. All study participants were asked questions about their experience with an opioid overdose. The first paper discussed the study participant’s experiences with post opioid overdose interventions after their overdose. Paper 1 discussed study participants’ experiences using a variety of interventions to reduce and treat their substance use. Study participants implement behavioral changes to their substance use, providing further evidence that earlier intervention is needed among the population. Paper 2 discussed the study participant’s lived experiences with harm reduction and opioid overdose risk reduction methods. It was found that several study participants incorporated strategies to reduce their risk of subsequent overdose, yet not all participants tried out harm reduction methods. Paper 3 is a conceptual paper that explores the implications of stigma, racism, and discrimination among the population. Further discussion and study limitations to the study are delineated throughout the three papers. In addition, limitations are also included within the introduction and conclusion sections of the dissertation.