Drug poisoning deaths in the United States, 1999-2012: a statistical adjustment analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Drug poisoning mortality in the US has risen rapidly but the drugs involved are frequently unspecified on death certificates.

Methods

Reported and adjusted proportions of specific drug types involved in fatal drug poisonings were calculated using vital statistics mortality data from 1999 to 2012. The adjusted proportions were those predicted to occur if at least one specific type of drug had been identified on the death certificates of all poisoning fatalities.

Results

Adjusted involvement rates of opioid analgesic mentions in 2012 were 54.3 % (95 % confidence interval [CI]: 53.6 %-55 %), 40.8 % higher than the reported 38.6 % rate. Adjusted rates for all narcotics, other narcotics, sedatives, or psychotropics, and multiple drug use were 81.5 % (95 % CI: 80

SUBMITTER: Ruhm CJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4714527 | biostudies-literature | 2016

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature