Drug Overdose Deaths in the United States, 1999–2020

10.15620/cdc:112340 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Holly Hedegaard ◽

Arialdi Miniño ◽

Merianne Rose Spencer ◽

Margaret Warner

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Drug Overdose ◽

The United States ◽

Vital Statistics ◽

Demographic Group ◽

Overdose Deaths

This report uses the most recent data from the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS) to update statistics on deaths from drug overdose in the United States, showing rates by demographic group and by specific types of drugs involved (such as opioids or stimulants), with a focus on changes from 2019 to 2020.

Download Full-text

A case of a mixed overdose involving kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) leading to serotonin syndrome

Medical Science and Discovery ◽

10.36472/msd.v8i12.626 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (12) ◽

pp. 689-691

Author(s):

H. Reid Zweifel ◽

Jonathan Browne ◽

Jeffrey M Levine

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Drug Overdose ◽

Serotonin Syndrome ◽

The United States ◽

Opiate Withdrawal ◽

The Past ◽

Mitragyna Speciosa ◽

Overdose Deaths ◽

Acute Intake ◽

Μ Receptor

Objective: Drug overdose deaths have risen precipitously over the past two years in the United States. Polysubstance overdose with opiates and amphetamines have been of particular concern. Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) is an unregulated widely available herb with both stimulant and opiate μ-receptor activity. Studies suggest that its use is quickly increasing. Case: We describe a patient who presented to a psychiatric hospital with a mixed toxic syndrome due to chronic kratom and prescribed SSRI use compounded by acute intake of methamphetamine. The patient displayed psychosis, tremulousness, myoclonus, and extreme anxiety. Her clinical picture was consistent with both serotonin syndrome and opiate withdrawal. Conclusion: We call attention to this case because polysubstance overdoses are common, and kratom is widely available. Complex toxic presentations that involve kratom are likely to be increasingly encountered.

Download Full-text

Prescription Medication Misuse

Seminars in Neurology ◽

10.1055/s-0038-1673691 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 38 (06) ◽

pp. 654-664 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Jeoffrey Hill ◽

Daniel Alford

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Drug Overdose ◽

Prescription Medication ◽

The United States ◽

Prescription Medications ◽

Medication Misuse ◽

Illicit Market ◽

Number Of Individuals ◽

Overdose Deaths ◽

Related Harm

AbstractIn the United States, there is a prescription medication misuse crisis including increases in unintentional drug overdose deaths, medications obtained on the illicit market (i.e., diversion), and in the number of individuals seeking treatment for addiction to prescription medications. Neurologists manage patients suffering from conditions (e.g., pain, seizures, spasticity) where the prescriptions of medications with misuse potential are indicated. It is therefore imperative that neurologists understand which medications are liable to misuse and institute strategies to minimize the harm associated with these medications. The authors review the most common medications prescribed by neurologist with misuse potential, and briefly discuss the behaviors that are suggestive of medication misuse and tools for monitoring patients to minimize medication-related harm from misuse.

Download Full-text

Pandemic meets epidemic: Co-location of COVID-19 and drug overdose deaths in the United States

Journal of Community Safety and Well-Being ◽

10.35502/jcswb.216 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 6 (4) ◽

pp. 174-178

Author(s):

Navya Tripathi ◽

Nancy Hardt

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Spatial Correlation ◽

Drug Overdose ◽

Hot Spot ◽

State Level ◽

The United States ◽

Time Step ◽

Access To Treatment ◽

Control And Prevention ◽

Overdose Deaths

Drug overdose deaths (DOD) in the last two decades have increased over 300 percent. In 2019 alone, 71,000 deaths represented a 7% increase from the previous year. According to recent data released by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 81,230 overdose deaths occurred in the United States from June 2019 to May 2020, the highest number of DOD recorded in a 12-month period. Early 2020 saw the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, which CDC suggests has amplified the previously alarming rise in drug-related mortalities. A hot spot analysis of COVID-19 and DOD rates, as well as a spatial correlation between the two datasets at the state level on a monthly time step, showed a significant increase in DOD during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study, conducted for the period of March through July 2021, showed a spatial correlation between the two types of mortalities in the initial months of 2020. Furthermore, the hot spots for both types of mortalities were concentrated in the northeastern states. The COVID-19 mortalities shifted southeast in July 2020, but DOD data was unavailable for further analysis. Since DOD are a leading contributor to preventable deaths, the results of the study may help focus the efforts of effective and innovative programs to reduce substance use disorder and related mortality through increased access to treatment. During the pandemic, access to such facilities was reduced.

Download Full-text

Changes in Synthetic Opioid Involvement in Drug Overdose Deaths in the United States, 2010-2016

JAMA ◽

10.1001/jama.2018.2844 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 319 (17) ◽

pp. 1819 ◽

Cited By ~ 129

Author(s):

Christopher M. Jones ◽

Emily B. Einstein ◽

Wilson M. Compton

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Drug Overdose ◽

The United States ◽

Overdose Deaths

Download Full-text

Impact of Drug Overdose Deaths on Solid Organ Transplantation in the United States

Journal of General Internal Medicine ◽

10.1007/s11606-018-4477-8 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 33 (9) ◽

pp. 1423-1425 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

George Cholankeril ◽

Andrew A. Li ◽

Rosann Cholankeril ◽

Alice E. Toll ◽

Jeffrey S. Glenn ◽

...

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Organ Transplantation ◽

Drug Overdose ◽

Solid Organ Transplantation ◽

The United States ◽

Solid Organ ◽

Overdose Deaths

Download Full-text

Health Data Disparities in Opioid-Involved Overdose Deaths From 1999 to 2018 in the United States

American Journal of Public Health ◽

10.2105/ajph.2021.306322 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. e1-e9

Author(s):

Adam J. Milam ◽

Debra Furr-Holden ◽

Ling Wang ◽

Kevin M. Simon

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

African American ◽

Temporal Trends ◽

The United States ◽

Vital Statistics ◽

Health Data ◽

Using Data ◽

Death Investigation ◽

Overdose Deaths

Objectives. To examine temporal trends in the classification of opioid-involved overdose deaths (OODs) and racial variation in the classification of specific types of opioids used. Methods. We analyzed OODs coded as other or unspecified narcotics from 1999 to 2018 in the United States using data from the National Vital Statistics System and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Results. The total proportion ofOODs fromunspecified narcotics decreased from 32.4% in 1999 to 1.9% in 2018. The proportion of OODs from unspecified narcotics among African American persons was approximately 2-fold greater than that of non-Hispanic White persons until 2012. Similarly, the proportion of OODs from unspecified narcotics among Hispanic persons was greater than that of White persons until 2015. After we controlled for death investigation system, African American persons had a higher incidence rate of OODs from unspecified narcotics compared with White persons. Conclusions. There have been significant improvements in the specification OODs over the past 20 years,and there has been significant racial disparity in the classification of OODs until about 2015. The findings suggest a health data disparity; the excessive misclassification of OODs is likely attributable to the race/ethnicity of the decedent. (Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print June 29, 2021: e1–e8. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2021.306322 )

Download Full-text

QuickStats: Age-Adjusted Rates of Drug Overdose Deaths Involving Heroin,* by Race/Ethnicity† — National Vital Statistics System, United States, 1999–2017

MMWR Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report ◽

10.15585/mmwr.mm6837a5 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 68 (37) ◽

pp. 810

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Drug Overdose ◽

Vital Statistics ◽

Race Ethnicity ◽

Age Adjusted Rates ◽

Overdose Deaths

Download Full-text

Deaths Attributed to Psychiatric Disorders in the United States, 2010–2018

American Journal of Public Health ◽

10.2105/ajph.2020.305923 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 110 (12) ◽

pp. 1825-1827

Author(s):

Amy S. B. Bohnert ◽

Srijan Sen

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Cause Of Death ◽

The United States ◽

Vital Statistics ◽

Psychiatric Diagnoses ◽

The Us ◽

Underlying Cause Of Death ◽

Overdose Deaths ◽

Mortality Surveillance ◽

Population Rate

Objectives. To quantify deaths in the United States from 2010 through 2018 that were reported with an underlying cause of death as a psychiatric diagnosis, which do not indicate a clear mechanism of death, and that may be misclassified suicide and overdose deaths. Methods. We used national vital statistics data to identify rates and circumstances of deaths by specific underlying cause of death categories in the US population. Results. There were 115 442 deaths attributed to psychiatric diagnoses and 834 763 deaths attributed to suicide or overdose. The population rate of deaths attributed to psychiatric diagnoses increased from 3.26 to 4.96 per 100 000 US persons between 2010 and 2018. Conclusions. Psychiatric diagnoses may represent a fairly substantial number of misclassified overdose and suicide deaths. Improving mortality surveillance requires improving the accuracy of diagnoses reported on death certificates.

Download Full-text