A COVID-19 Public Health Silver Lining? Reductions in Driving under the Influence Arrests and Crashes in Miami-Dade County

The rising use of designer benzodiazepines (DBZD) is a cat-and-mouse game between organized crime and law enforcement. Non-prohibited benzodiazepines are introduced onto the global drug market and scheduled as rapidly as possible by international authorities. In response, DBZD are continuously modified to avoid legal sanctions and drug seizures and generally to increase the abuse potential of the DBZD. This results in an unpredictable fluctuation between the appearance and disappearance of DBZD in the illicit market. Thirty-one DBZD were considered for review after consulting the international early warning database, but only 3-hydroxyphenazepam, adinazolam, clonazolam, etizolam, deschloroetizolam, diclazepam, flualprazolam, flubromazepam, flubromazolam, meclonazepam, phenazepam and pyrazolam had sufficient data to contribute to this scoping review. A total of 49 reports describing 1 drug offense, 2 self-administration studies, 3 outpatient department admissions, 44 emergency department (ED) admissions, 63 driving under the influence of drugs (DUID) and 141 deaths reported between 2008 and 2021 are included in this study. Etizolam, flualprazolam flubromazolam and phenazepam were implicated in the majority of adverse-events, drug offenses and deaths. However, due to a general lack of knowledge of DBZD pharmacokinetics and toxicity, and due to a lack of validated analytical methods, total cases are much likely higher. Between 2019 and April 2020, DBZD were identified in 48% and 83% of postmortem and DUID cases reported to the UNODC, respectively, with flualprazolam, flubromazolam and etizolam as the most frequently detected substances. DBZD toxicology, public health risks and adverse events are reported.

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COVID-19: A HEALTH PERSPECTIVE

Journal of Business & Economic Analysis ◽

10.1142/s2737566821500018 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 04 (01) ◽

pp. 57-81

Author(s):

SHEENA WONG ◽

GOH JING EN ◽

DAVID KOH

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Severe Pneumonia ◽

Unknown Origin ◽

Mitigation Strategies ◽

Diagnostic Methods ◽

Control Measures ◽

Infection Control Measures ◽

Rapid Characterization ◽

Silver Lining

A severe pneumonia of an unknown origin was reported in Wuhan, China in December 2019. The disease, now known as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), has evolved into a public health emergency of international concern and wreaked worldwide havoc. An unprecedented and vigorous scientific response has allowed the accelerated discovery of the virus and reliable diagnostic methods; a rapid characterization of the disease and its impacts so as to better apply precautionary and public health measures; and resulted in remarkable progress in the development of mitigation strategies, including the development of vaccines at breakneck speed. This paper provides a health perspective of the virus and the pandemic it caused, based on available best evidence. Controversies surrounding the origin of the virus, its incubation period and infectivity, presentation and course of the disease, testing, as well as treatments and vaccinations are highlighted. The pandemic response, including infection control measures, and considerations on mental and economic health, alongside physical health is discussed. Moving forward, it is important that the global community is aware and better informed. More resources are needed to strengthen public health systems and healthcare infrastructure and delivery. This virus has the potential to persist and become endemic and seasonal in communities. Thus, non-pharmaceutical interventions (e.g. wearing masks, frequent hand washing, etc.) might become the new normal in a post-pandemic world. The silver lining in the COVID-19 cloud may be the lessons it provides, so that we may be better prepared to respond to an inevitable next pandemic.

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Relation of Driving Under the Influence Laws to Access to Firearms Across US States

American Journal of Public Health ◽

10.2105/ajph.2020.305995 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. e1-e6

Author(s):

Andrew G. Bowen ◽

Robert A. Tessler ◽

Deirdre Bowen ◽

Miriam J. Haviland ◽

Ali Rowhani-Rahbar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Primary Outcome ◽

Driving Under The Influence ◽

Future Research ◽

Time Interval ◽

State Laws ◽

Us States

Objectives. To determine differences among US states in how driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) laws activate federal firearm possession and purchase prohibitions. Methods. We performed primary legislative research to characterize DUI laws in each state. The primary outcome was the number of DUI convictions an individual must be convicted of in each state to activate the federal firearm possession and purchase prohibition. We also determined the time interval in which previous DUI convictions count for future proceedings. Results. Forty-seven states had DUI laws that activated the federal prohibition of firearm possession and purchase for a threshold number of repeated DUIs. Variation exists among states in the number of convictions (1–4) and length of liability period (5 years–lifetime) required to prohibit firearm possession and purchase. Conclusions. Variation in state laws on DUI results in differences in determining who is federally prohibited from possessing and purchasing firearms. Future research should explore whether these federal prohibitions arising from DUI convictions are enforced and whether an association exists between stricter DUI policies and reduction in firearm crimes, injuries, and deaths. (Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print December 22, 2020: e1–e6. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2020.305995 )

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Could There Be a Silver Lining to Zika?

Contexts ◽

10.1177/1536504217696062 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

pp. 36-41 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Caitlin Killian

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Public Opinion ◽

State Level ◽

Abortion Policy ◽

Silver Lining

Public health crises around Thalidomide and Rubella changed American public opinion around abortion policy. But could the spread of Zika do the same amid an outbreak of new state-level abortion restrictions?

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Positive drug test trends in fatally-injured drivers in the United States from 2007 to 2017

Substance Abuse Treatment Prevention and Policy ◽

10.1186/s13011-019-0228-z ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Sunday Azagba ◽

Keely Latham ◽

Lingpeng Shan ◽

Fares Qeadan

Keyword(s):

Public Health ◽

Statistical Significance ◽

Health Hazard ◽

Blood Alcohol Concentration ◽

Age Groups ◽

The United States ◽

Alcohol Concentration ◽

Driving Under The Influence ◽

Drugged Driving ◽

The U.S

Abstract Background The last two decades have seen tremendous changes in the U.S. environment surrounding drugs. Driving under the influence of drugs is a growing public health hazard. The present study examined trends in drug involvement in fatally-injured drivers in the U.S. Methods Data were drawn from the 2007–2017 Fatality Analysis Reporting System. Cochran–Armitage tests were performed to assess the statistical significance of changes in the yearly prevalence of positive drug tests in fatally-injured drivers over time. In addition, analyses were stratified by sex, race, and age. Results The yearly prevalence of positive drug tests in fatally-injured drivers increased significantly from 20.7% in 2007 to 30.7% in 2017, with results showing a higher prevalence among males, those aged 21–44, and Whites. The gap between Blacks and Whites narrowed in 2017. There was a decline in the yearly prevalence in all age groups between 2016 and 2017, although the decrease in the 21–44 age group was much smaller than other age groups. Among drivers who tested positive for drugs, 34.6% had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) above the threshold of per se evidence for impaired driving, and 63% had a BAC below the threshold. Conclusions Our results indicate that the overall yearly prevalence of fatally-injured drivers who tested positive for drugs increased significantly from 2007 to 2017, with similar results found for subgroups. Findings further highlight that drugged driving remains a public health priority, and more action is needed to stem this disturbing trend.

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