Date of Conferral

4-21-2025

Date of Award

April 2025

Degree

Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.)

School

Psychology

Advisor

Patricia Loun

Abstract

Nonfatal overdose (NFOD) is a critical yet often overlooked aspect of the opioid crisis, significantly contributing to the public health burden of opioid use disorder (OUD). The purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to examine the relationship between depression severity, anxiety severity, and health insurance type with repeated nonfatal opioid overdoses among individuals with Opioid use Disorder (OUD) in Florida. This study was guided by the biopsychosocial model, which highlights the interplay of biological, psychological, and social factors in health outcomes. A total of 90 anonymous surveys were collected from participants who met the requirements. A multiple linear regression analysis was used to assess predictors of NFOD frequency. The regression model was statistically significant, F(5,89) = 15.112, p < .001, with an R2 value of .474, indicating that 47.4% of the variance in NFODs was explained by the predictor variables: GAD-7 Score, PHQ-9 Score, and health insurance. The findings revealed that health insurance status was a significant predictor of NFODs, while the severity of depression and anxiety did not show a significant relationship. Post hoc analysis, indicated that Medicaid recipients had significantly higher rates of NFODs compared to individuals with all other types of health insurance, suggesting that Medicaid funding and coverage limitations may impact NFOD risk. This study underscores the importance of positive social change by advocating for healthcare policies that improve access to comprehensive, integrated treatment for individuals with OUD, ultimately reducing overdose risk and enhancing public health outcomes.

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