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An Examination of Seasonal Trends in Delaware Drug Overdoses, 2016-2020. Dela J Public Health 2021; 7:44-51. [PMID: 35619981 PMCID: PMC9124554 DOI: 10.32481/djph.2021.12.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective To examine whether overdose deaths and related metrics—overdose calls for service to police and non-fatal overdose emergency department visits—in Delaware follow within-year (i.e., seasonal) patterns during the most recent years of the opioid epidemic (2016-2020). Methods We begin by providing descriptive statistics on yearly trends in overdose metrics, followed by Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) to analyze whether seasonal variations have a significant impact on the patterns of Delaware’s overdose metrics while controlling for annual variations. Results We find yearly variations across the three overdose-related metrics, with overdose deaths reporting the only consistent increases per year. Within-year, or seasonal, variations show the spring months have the most consistent increases in overdose deaths and overdose calls for service across years we studied. Finally, we report significant differences for all overdose metrics across years and seasons. Conclusions As in prior studies, we find significant variation in overdose-related metrics by season in Delaware. Policy Implications These findings lend support to existing interventions in slowing yearly growth in overdose deaths. However, allocation of resources and interventions to specific times of the year—when overdoses are highest—may further reduce risks and harms.
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Fenton JJ, Magnan EM, Agnoli AL, Henry SG, Xing G, Tancredi DJ. Longitudinal Dose Trajectory Among Patients Tapering Long-Term Opioids. PAIN MEDICINE 2021; 22:1660-1668. [PMID: 33738505 DOI: 10.1093/pm/pnaa470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the dose trajectory of new opioid tapers and estimate the percentage of patients with sustained tapers at long-term follow-up. DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. SETTING Data from the OptumLabs Data Warehouse® which includes de-identified medical and pharmacy claims and enrollment records for commercial and Medicare Advantage enrollees, representing a diverse mixture of ages, ethnicities, and geographical regions across the United States. SUBJECTS Patients prescribed stable, higher-dose opioids for ≥12 months from 2008 to 2018. METHODS Tapering was defined as ≥15% relative reduction in average MME/day during any of six overlapping 60-day periods in the initial 7 months of follow-up after the period of stable baseline dosing. Average monthly dose was ascertained during consecutive 60-day periods up to 16 months of follow-up. Linear regression estimated the geometric mean relative dose by tapering status and follow-up duration. Poisson regression estimated the percentage of tapered patients with sustained dose reductions at follow-up and patient-level predictors of failing to sustain tapers. RESULTS The sample included 113,618 patients with 203,920 periods of stable baseline dosing (mean follow-up = 13.7 months). Tapering was initiated during 37,170 follow-up periods (18.2%). After taper initiation, patients had a substantial initial mean dose reduction (geometric mean relative dose .73 [95% CI: .72-.74]) that was sustained through 16 months of follow-up; at which point, 69.8% (95% CI: 69.1%-70.4%) of patients who initiated tapers had a relative dose reduction ≥15%, and 14.2% (95% CI: 13.7%-14.7%) had discontinued opioids. Failure to sustain tapers was significantly less likely among patients with overdose events during follow-up (adjusted incidence rate ratio [aIRR]: .56 [95% CI: .48-.67]) and during more recent years (aIRR: .93 per year after 2008 [95% CI: .92-.94]). CONCLUSIONS In an insured and Medicare Advantage population, over two-thirds of patients who initiated opioid dose tapering sustained long-term dose reductions, and the likelihood of sustaining tapers increased substantially from 2008 to 2018.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua J Fenton
- Departments of Family and Community Medicine, Davis, Sacramento, California, USA.,the Center for Healthcare Policy and Research, Davis, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Elizabeth M Magnan
- Departments of Family and Community Medicine, Davis, Sacramento, California, USA.,the Center for Healthcare Policy and Research, Davis, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Alicia L Agnoli
- Departments of Family and Community Medicine, Davis, Sacramento, California, USA.,the Center for Healthcare Policy and Research, Davis, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Stephen G Henry
- the Center for Healthcare Policy and Research, Davis, Sacramento, California, USA.,Internal Medicine, Davis, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Guibo Xing
- the Center for Healthcare Policy and Research, Davis, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Daniel J Tancredi
- the Center for Healthcare Policy and Research, Davis, Sacramento, California, USA.,Pediatrics, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California, USA
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Scholl L, Liu S, Vivolo-Kantor A, Board A, Stein Z, Roehler DR, McGlone L, Hoots BE, Mustaquim D, Smith H. Development and Validation of a Syndrome Definition to Identify Suspected Nonfatal Heroin-Involved Overdoses Treated in Emergency Departments. JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH MANAGEMENT AND PRACTICE 2021; 27:369-378. [PMID: 33346583 DOI: 10.1097/phh.0000000000001271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) works closely with states and local jurisdictions that are leveraging data from syndromic surveillance systems to identify meaningful changes in overdose trends. CDC developed a suspected nonfatal heroin overdose syndrome definition for use with emergency department (ED) data to help monitor trends at the national, state, and local levels. OBJECTIVE This study assesses the percentage of true-positive unintentional and undetermined intent heroin-involved overdose (UUHOD) captured by this definition. DESIGN/SETTING CDC applied the UUHOD definition to ED data available in CDC's National Syndromic Surveillance Program (NSSP). Data were analyzed from 18 states that shared access to their syndromic data in NSSP with the CDC overdose morbidity team. Data were analyzed using queries and manual reviews to identify heroin overdose diagnosis codes and text describing chief complaint reasons for ED visits. MEASURES The percentage of true-positive UUHOD was calculated as the number of true-positives divided by the number of total visits captured by the syndrome definition. RESULTS In total, 99 617 heroin overdose visits were identified by the syndrome definition. Among 95 323 visits identified as acute heroin-involved overdoses, based on reviews of chief complaint text and diagnosis codes, 967 (1.0%) were classified as possible intentional drug overdoses. Among all 99 617 visits, 94 356 (94.7%) were classified as true-positive UUHOD; 2226 (2.2%) and 3035 (3.0%) were classified as "no" and "maybe" UUHOD, respectively. CONCLUSION Analysis of the CDC heroin overdose syndrome definition determined that nearly all visits were captured accurately for patients presenting to the ED for a suspected acute UUHOD. This definition will continue to be valuable for ongoing heroin overdose surveillance and epidemiologic analysis of heroin overdose patterns. CDC will evaluate possible definition refinements as new products and terms for heroin overdose emerge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lawrence Scholl
- Division of Overdose Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (Drs Scholl, Liu, Vivolo-Kantor, Board, Roehler, and Hoots, Messrs McGlone and Smith, and Ms Mustaquim), Epidemic Intelligence Service (Dr Board), and Division of Health Informatics and Surveillance, Center for Surveillance, Epidemiology, and Laboratory Services (Mr Stein), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; ICF, Atlanta, Georgia (Mr Stein); 2M Research, Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas (Mr McGlone); and Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge, Tennessee (Mr Smith)
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Davis CS, Carr DH, Glenn MJ, Samuels EA. Legal Authority for Emergency Medical Services to Increase Access to Buprenorphine Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder. Ann Emerg Med 2021; 78:102-108. [PMID: 33781607 DOI: 10.1016/j.annemergmed.2021.01.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2020] [Revised: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Treatment with buprenorphine significantly reduces both all-cause and overdose mortality among individuals with opioid use disorder. Offering buprenorphine treatment to individuals who experience a nonfatal opioid overdose represents an opportunity to reduce opioid overdose fatalities. Although some emergency departments (EDs) initiate buprenorphine treatment, many individuals who experience an overdose either refuse transport to the ED or are transported to an ED that does not offer buprenorphine. Emergency medical services (EMS) professionals can help address this treatment gap. In this Concepts article, we describe the federal legal landscape that governs the ability of EMS professionals to administer buprenorphine treatment, and discuss state and local regulatory considerations relevant to this promising and emerging practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corey S Davis
- Harm Reduction Legal Project, Network for Public Health Law, Los Angeles, CA.
| | | | - Melody J Glenn
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Arizona, and Banner University Medical Center Tucson, Tucson, AZ
| | - Elizabeth A Samuels
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI
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Mortality Following Nonfatal Opioid and Sedative/Hypnotic Drug Overdose. Am J Prev Med 2020; 59:59-67. [PMID: 32389530 PMCID: PMC7311279 DOI: 10.1016/j.amepre.2020.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2019] [Revised: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 02/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Opioid and sedative/hypnotic drug overdoses are major causes of morbidity in the U.S. This study compares 12-month incidence of fatal unintentional drug overdose, suicide, and other mortality among emergency department patients presenting with nonfatal opioid or sedative/hypnotic overdose. METHODS This is a retrospective cohort study using statewide, longitudinally linked emergency department patient record and mortality data from California. Participants comprised all residents presenting to a licensed emergency department at least once in 2009-2011 with nonfatal unintentional opioid overdose, sedative/hypnotic overdose, or neither (a 5% random sample). Participants were followed for 1 year after index emergency department presentation to assess death from unintentional overdose, suicide, or other causes, ascertained using ICD-10 codes. Absolute death rates per 100,000 person years and standardized mortality ratios relative to the general population were calculated. Data were analyzed February-August 2019. RESULTS Following the index emergency department visit, unintentional overdose death rates per 100,000 person years were 1,863 following opioid overdose, 342 following sedative/hypnotic overdose, and 31 for reference patients without an index overdose (respective standardized mortality ratios of 106.1, 95% CI=95.2, 116.9; 24.5, 95% CI=21.3, 27.6; and 2.6, 95% CI=2.2, 3.0). Suicide mortality rates per 100,000 were 319, 174, and 32 following opioid overdose, sedative/hypnotic overdose, and reference visits, respectively. Natural causes mortality rates per 100,000 were 8,058 (opioid overdose patients), 17,301 (sedative/hypnotic overdose patients), and 3,097 (reference patients). CONCLUSIONS Emergency department patients with nonfatal opioid or sedative/hypnotic drug overdose have exceptionally high risks of death from unintentional overdose, suicide, and other causes. Emergency department-based interventions offer potential for reducing these patients' overdose and other mortality risks.
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Joseph JW, Marshall KD, Reich BE, Boyle KL, Hill KP, Weiner SG, Derse AR. How Emergency Physicians Approach Refusal of Observation after Naloxone Resuscitation. J Emerg Med 2020; 58:148-159. [PMID: 31753755 DOI: 10.1016/j.jemermed.2019.09.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2019] [Revised: 09/03/2019] [Accepted: 09/13/2019] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients who are resuscitated with naloxone frequently refuse a period of observation, even though they may be suffering from a variety of medical and psychiatric comorbidities. Emergency physicians (EPs) are then confronted with the challenge of how best to serve patients' interests while respecting autonomy. OBJECTIVES We sought to characterize how EPs think about this kind of dilemma and the strategies they use to resolve them. METHODS We conducted qualitative semi-structured interviews with a convenience sample of 59 emergency physicians attending the American College of Emergency Physicians' Scientific Assembly in October 2018. Three case vignettes highlighting different clinical and ethical features served as prompts. Interviews were analyzed using a constant comparative method to identify patterns of responses and derive key themes. RESULTS Across the vignettes, EPs demonstrated diverse approaches to observation, assessing decision-making capacity and encouraging compliance. Some EPs refused to comply with a patient's wishes even when they had determined a patient demonstrated capacity. Conversely, a few EPs were willing to allow patients to leave the emergency department (ED) without assessing capacity, or despite determining that the patient lacked capacity. Common reasons for complying with patients' demands were concerns about the patients' rights and concerns about the safety of staff. Most physicians interviewed reported no institutional guidelines or education on the topic, and many physicians expressed an interest in providing medication for addiction treatment in the ED. CONCLUSIONS EPs approach this clinical and ethical dilemma in widely divergent ways. Consensus about strategies for navigating patients' wishes relative to clinical concerns are needed to help EPs manage these challenging cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua W Joseph
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Kenneth D Marshall
- Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Kansas Health System, Kansas City, Kansas; University of Kansas Medical School, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Betzalel E Reich
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Katherine L Boyle
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts; Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Kevin P Hill
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Division of Addiction Psychiatry, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Scott G Weiner
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Department of Emergency Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Arthur R Derse
- Center for Bioethics and Medical Humanities, Institute for Health and Society, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Department of Emergency Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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Abstract
Across all care environments, pharmacists play an essential role in the care of people who use and misuse psychoactive substances, including those diagnosed with substance use disorders. To optimize, sustain, and expand these independent and collaborative roles, the Association for Multidisciplinary Education and Research in Substance Use and Addiction (AMERSA) has developed core competencies for pharmacists to address substance use in the 21st century. Key concepts, skills, and attitudes are outlined, with links to entrustable professional activities to assist with integration into a variety of ideally interdisciplinary curricular activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey Bratberg
- Pharmacy Practice, University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy, Kingston, Rhode Island, USA
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