Naloxone protection, social support, network characteristics, and overdose experiences among a cohort of people who use illicit opioids in New York City.

Results show considerable gaps in naloxone protection among people who use opioids, with more vulnerable and historically disadvantaged subpopulations less likely to be protected. Larger social networks of people who use opioids may be an important resource to curtail overdose mortality, but more effort is needed to harness the protective aspects of social networks.